Global Externalities, Local Policies, and Firm Selection

How to fight global problems with local tools? When only firms know what externality-producing activities can be relocated, policies shape the location distribution of firm types with different social values. We find that, because of this selection effect, the optimal local policies confront firms’ mobility with elevated corrective externality prices, in contrast with the common remedies for the relocation risk. Our mechanism incentivizes also moving firms to limit the externality, and it influences strategically the distribution of moving firms that comply with policies elsewhere. The magnitude of these effects is illustrated by a quantification for the key sectors in the EU emissions trading system.

People, Place, and Politics: Local Factors Shaping Middle‐Class Practices in Mixed‐Class German Neighbourhoods

This article takes a nuanced look at the role played by neighbourhood characteristics and local policies in facilitating or limiting the ways in which diversity‐oriented middle‐class families interact and deal with people of lower social classes in mixed‐class inner‐city neighbourhoods. The study draws on interviews and social network analysis conducted in neighbourhoods with different socio‐economic characteristics in the German cities of Hanover and Dusseldorf. A comparative view allows us to analyse how neighbourhood characteristics and local policies influence middle‐classes’ interactions across social boundaries. Our aim is to contribute to ongoing debates on urban policy options: In discussing the conditions encouraging cross‐boundary interactions of specific middle‐class fractions, we argue that the scope of local‐level action is not fully recognized in either policy or academic debates.

Spatial-Temporal Traffic Flow Control on Motorways Using Distributed Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning

The prevailing variable speed limit (VSL) systems as an effective strategy for traffic control on motorways have the disadvantage that they only work with static VSL zones. Under changing traffic conditions, VSL systems with static VSL zones may perform suboptimally. Therefore, the adaptive design of VSL zones is required in traffic scenarios where congestion characteristics vary widely over space and time. To address this problem, we propose a novel distributed spatial-temporal multi-agent VSL (DWL-ST-VSL) approach capable of dynamically adjusting the length and position of VSL zones to complement the adjustment of speed limits in current VSL control systems. To model DWL-ST-VSL, distributed W-learning (DWL), a reinforcement learning (RL)-based algorithm for collaborative agent-based self-optimization toward multiple policies, is used. Each agent uses RL to learn local policies, thereby maximizing travel speed and eliminating congestion. In addition to local policies, through the concept of remote policies, agents learn how their actions affect their immediate neighbours and which policy or action is preferred in a given situation. To assess the impact of deploying additional agents in the control loop and the different cooperation levels on the control process, DWL-ST-VSL is evaluated in a four-agent configuration (DWL4-ST-VSL). This evaluation is done via SUMO microscopic simulations using collaborative agents controlling four segments upstream of the congestion in traffic scenarios with medium and high traffic loads. DWL also allows for heterogeneity in agents’ policies; cooperating agents in DWL4-ST-VSL implement two speed limit sets with different granularity. DWL4-ST-VSL outperforms all baselines (W-learning-based VSL and simple proportional speed control), which use static VSL zones. Finally, our experiments yield insights into the new concept of VSL control. This may trigger further research on using advanced learning-based technology to design a new generation of adaptive traffic control systems to meet the requirements of operating in a nonstationary environment and at the leading edge of emerging connected and autonomous vehicles in general.

Social Capital and Sustainable Social Development—How Are Changes in Neighbourhood Social Capital Associated with Neighbourhood Sociodemographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics?

The development of social capital is acknowledged as key for sustainable social development. Little is known about how social capital changes over time and how it correlates with sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors. This study was conducted in 46 neighbourhoods in Umeå Municipality, northern Sweden. The aim was to examine neighbourhood-level characteristics associated with changes in neighbourhood social capital and to discuss implications for local policies for sustainable social development. We designed an ecological study linking survey data to registry data in 2006 and 2020. Over 14 years, social capital increased in 9 and decreased in 15 neighbourhoods. Higher levels of social capital were associated with specific sociodemographic factors, but these differed in urban and rural areas. Urban neighbourhoods with a higher proportion of older pensioners (OR = 1.49, CI: 1.16–1.92), children under 12 (OR= 2.13, CI: 1.31–3.47), or a lower proportion of foreign-born members (OR= 0.32, CI: 0.19–0.55) had higher odds for higher social capital levels. In rural neighbourhoods, a higher proportion of single-parent households was associated with higher levels of social capital (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.04–1.98). Neighbourhood socioeconomic factors such as income or educational level did not influence neighbourhood social capital. Using repeated measures of social capital, this study gives insights into how social capital changes over time in local areas and the factors influencing its development. Local policies to promote social capital for sustainable social development should strive to integrate diverse demographic groups within neighbourhoods and should increase opportunities for inter-ethnic interactions.

Partisanship shapes US attitudes to climate policy

Significance Although acceptance of the reality of climate change is growing, views on how government should respond divide sharply by party affiliation. US polling data suggest that partisanship is a stronger factor in shaping public attitudes toward the risks and policies associated with climate change than an individual’s age or location. Impacts The recently enacted Biden infrastructure bill includes significant funds to improve resilience and advance clean energy. One-quarter of the USD2tn spending bill now before the Senate is earmarked for issues associated with climate change. Work on climate issues in response to regional concerns will result in a patchwork of state and local policies. Changes in insurance availability for homes and businesses in vulnerable areas will be an increasing factor in policy decisions.

Analisis kesehatan Lembaga Perkreditan Desa (LPD) se-Kabupaten Badung

Lembaga Perkreditan Desa (LPD) was established to strengthen the socio-cultural and economic life of the Balinese indigenous people, its implementation is not subject to the central government, but refers to local policies. The purpose of the study was to analyze the health of the LPD in Badung Regency. This is a descriptive study with a quantitative approach, using secondary data from LPD financial statements for 2017-2019. During 2017–2019 LPDs in the healthy category experienced an increase of 1%, for the fairly healthy category it did not change, the less healthy category increased by 3%, and the unhealthy decreased by 4%. LPD health analysis was measured by CAEL analysis. In 2017, 2018, and 2019 respectively, there were 13, 12, and 9 unhealthy LPDs; 5, 10, and 8 are not healthy; 24, 21, and 24 are quite healthy; and 61, 60, and 62 in the healthy category.

From European forestry strategies to implementing local policies: a study on public forest workers in the Tuscany region of Italy

Even though forests represent almost half of the EU territory, the implementation of forestry strategies is delegated to local government institutions. This study proposes an overview of the main European forestry strategies, national (Italian) guidelines and local implementation instruments (in Tuscany). This approach made it possible to identify the actual executors of forestry policies, i.e., the public forest workers. The paper provides a framework of the recent dynamics of regional forestry instruments, their effects on available financial resources and their technicaloperational consequences. Furthermore, Tuscan public forest worker profiles were defined through an online questionnaire. The results show that it is essential to activate constant monitoring of local actions in order to verify the effectiveness of superordinate forestry policies.

State and Local Policies and Sectoral Labor Standards: From Individual Rights to Collective Power

The US enterprise-based collective bargaining regime creates substantial limitations for organizing workers in an economy in which supply chains are increasingly disaggregated in ways that reduce worker power. Federal labor law generally preempts state and local policies that directly address private-sector bargaining. State and local governments, however, are not preempted from setting general labor standards. The authors examine four cases of recent experiments using sectoral standards at the local level. The cases show that sectoral standards have the potential to expand new forms of social bargaining through state and local public policy in areas of the country where worker organizations are already strong. Sectoral standards can do so in ways that promote worker organization and build institutional power, especially when combined with robust worker organizing. In presenting these cases, the authors show both the potential power, and limitations, of federalism in US workplace regulation.

The Effectiveness of Extracurricular (Qur’an Hadith) in State High School (SMAN) 15 Takengon Binaan Nenggeri Antara

Al-Qur'an and Hadith have an important role especially in high school-age children, where very few of them learn and understand the contents of the Qur'an and Hadith. In addition, students do not yet understand the importance of understanding the Qur'an and Hadith for the future. Many of them lack interest, lack parental roles, and an unsupportive environment. This study aims to increase knowledge and understanding related to the Effectiveness of the Additional Lesson Activity (Qur'an) Hadith in the afternoon at SMAN 15 Takengon guided by Tereng Antara. Local policies began to erode with the inclusion of modern culture. For example, many Takengon students spend time playing games in internet cafes so that they do not have time to practice the Koran and the Koran as room decoration, even making antiques that are only displayed in a glass cabinet, never read moreover study it. Reflecting on this, there is great hope for educators to apply the teachings of Al-Qur'an Hadith to all students.