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Behaviour-based pricing (BBP) is commonly observed in the information goods industry. Information goods providers typically sell multi-version products and have implemented different BBP strategies for their products. However, previous research on BBP is mostly limited to single-version products, which may not effectively guide practical decision-making regarding multi-version products. This gap sparks interest in how BBP can be applied to multi-version information goods. We show that the equilibrium pricing strategy depends on the quality gap between the products and how much consumers and the firm value future benefits. The firm should implement BBP for both high- and low-quality products if it values future benefits more than consumers do. If consumers value future benefits more than the firm, the firm should not implement BBP for either product. Moreover, when the firm and consumers value future benefits equally, the firm should only practice BBP for the low-quality product. Our calculations of consumer surplus and social welfare reveal that the absence of BBP doesn't always lead to the maximum benefits for consumers and society. Interestingly, if the firm values future benefits more than its consumers do, applying BBP only to high-quality products or both products may lead to higher consumer surplus and social welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers' perception of product value when purchasing is a critical issue relative to online platform commerce. This is especially true when the brand manufacturer authorises only a third-party reseller to sell through the platform, a practice that may provide opportunities to counterfeiters. To address this issue, we establish a theoretical model in which one brand manufacturer wholesales its products to a third-party reseller who then sells through an online platform. The platform acts as a marketplace, while multiple counterfeiters also exist on the platform, which may deceive consumers. In particular, we consider that the manufacturer can encroach with a direct channel and that the platform can adopt blockchain technology to help consumers identify authenticity. The results show that the platform could induce the brand manufacturer to encroach by deploying blockchain technology. Furthermore, an interesting result indicates that although either manufacturer encroachment or blockchain technology used alone can effectively boycott counterfeits, the coexistence of two strategies can raise the demand for counterfeit products. Finally, we find that when the brand manufacturer encroaches on the platform and the platform adopts blockchain technology, the brand manufacturer, platform, reseller and social welfare can achieve Pareto improvement, while the consumer surplus may be worse off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While digital health and social services offer promising solutions, they often overlook the perspectives and needs of older adults. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the preferences of older adults regarding the use and development of digital health and social services. Methods: The survey spanned from 19 March to 31 March 2023. The study population comprised 1100 Finnish individuals aged 75 and over from across Finland. The study used qualitative inductive content analysis to examine the open-ended responses obtained in the survey. Results: We identified eight main categories for the older adults' preferences: usability, service design, and security; training, support, instructions, and information; flexibility of compatible devices; understandable language and interpretation of laboratory results; available and accessible services; desired functionalities; delivery of information for viewing, and personalization. Conclusions: Older adults' involvement in digital services' strategy development is crucial, emphasizing value co-creation and segmentation while avoiding value co-destruction. Segmenting users and understanding their needs aids in customizing services, improving healthcare provision. Further research should assess the impact of segmentation-based training and digital device provision on older adults' adoption of digital health and social services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does work come to be constructed as a service to the worker? In the United States, the payment of subminimum wages to disabled workers has been legal since 1938 and was entrenched by 1986 legislation eliminating the previously mandated floor of 50 percent of the minimum wage. This article draws on primary historical materials to explain the passage of these amendments, which I analyze as a case of delaborization, a process through which work is mystified as such and reclassified as something else (e.g., service). I find that the managers of segregated workshops for disabled manual laborers rose to control disability employment policy in the aftermath of deinstitutionalization. Professionals mobilized disability stigma to frame the subminimum wage as a social welfare issue subject to their expertise and to lobby successfully for its entrenchment. Weaknesses in the disability–labor coalition enabled this seizure of jurisdiction. This research illuminates professional expertise, the withdrawal of labor unions, and identity-based stigma as major mechanisms driving delaborization, an important contemporary influence on the organization of work. The case of the subminimum wage thus develops sociological literatures on labor, disability, and politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic requirement for cognitive radio networks is that secondary users sense spectrum to detect whether primary users have arrived the system. However, imperfect sensing always occurs due to the interference of unreliable channel and signal, which can negatively affect the performance of both primary users and secondary users. To better study the practical problems of cognitive radio networks, we combine queueing theory with it. In this paper, we consider cognitive radio networks with imperfect sensing based on retrial queues with feedback and priority. Using the method of probability generating function, the performance measures are solved. A bi-objective optimization model is established to minimize both system cost and users' sojourn time. From the perspective of secondary users, we analyze both individual equilibrium strategy and socially optimal strategy. Meanwhile, in order to eliminate the differences between two strategies, we impose admission fees on secondary users and obtain the optimal pricing strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In matching markets, objects are allocated to agents without monetary transfers, based on agents' preferences. However, agents may not have enough information to determine their preferences over the objects precisely. How should a benevolent planner optimally reveal information to maximize social welfare in this context? I show that when agents are symmetric and there are just two options, letting each agent know his rank in the realized distribution of preferences – but not his actual preferences – always improves social welfare over providing no information. When there are more objects, this rank-based information policy generalizes to the Object Recommendation (OR) Signal, which consists of simply recommending each agent to pick his socially-optimal choice. Under a mild regularity condition, I show that, when agents' a priori relative preferences over the objects are "not too strong", the OR Signal, used together with any standard ordinal mechanism, not only maximizes welfare, but achieves the unconstrained social optimum — formalizing the intuition that when people do not have strong opinions over several options, it is easy to sway them. • In this paper we tackle the information design problem of a benevolent planner in a school choice problem, where students do not fully know their own preferences over schools. • When students are symmetric and there are just two schools, letting each student know his rank in the realized distribution of preferences – but not his actual preferences – always improves social welfare over providing no information. • When there are more schools, this rank-based information policy generalizes to the Object Recommendation (OR) Signal, consisting of simply recommending each student to pick his socially-optimal choice — which achieves first best aggregate welfare, as long as students' a priori preferences over schools are not "too strong". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rise of the digital economy, many firms are enhancing product line flexibility (i.e., the ability to adjust product line length or depth) to better manage demand uncertainties brought about by disruptive technologies. Concurrently, the booming digital economy has widened the information gap in supply chains. Retailers/platforms can now gather more detailed data to predict demand, but such data remains unavailable to manufacturers. This article studies how a manufacturer's product line flexibility influences a retailer's incentive to voluntarily share private demand information. We show that upstream product line flexibility encourages a retailer to voluntarily share information when product substitutability is low and the product line extension fee is moderate. This insight challenges the conventional belief that retailers should keep demand information private to maintain an advantage over manufacturers. Our work is the first to suggest that upstream product line flexibility can significantly motivate retailer information sharing. Additionally, we show that, although a social planner might prefer to withhold demand information from the manufacturer in the absence of product line flexibility, sharing this information becomes preferable when the manufacturer can adjust the product line length. The retailer's decision on information sharing can align with the social planner's in such scenarios. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, given upstream product line flexibility, except when product substitutability is not sufficiently high and the product line extension fee is moderate, the retailer's information sharing decision is unaffected by whether the manufacturer determines the product line design before or after demand is realized and shared accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biopesticides are considered as the effective measure to combat environmental consequences brought by chemical pesticides. However, due to the comparatively high price of biopesticides and unreasonable government subsidies, the trade-off between economy, society and environment represents a daunting task for pesticide supply chains. This study establishes a pesticide supply chain including manufacturers, retailer and government to study the production and sales strategies of pesticides under two different structures: monopoly and duopoly. Based on the equilibrium and numerical analyses, we find that: first, only when the government subsidy falls within a reasonable range, it can incentivise the chemical pesticide manufacturer to produce biopesticides in both monopoly and duopoly markets. Interestingly, the subsidy can improve the profit of pesticide supply chain in monopoly market, however the consumer surplus and social welfare are greater in duopoly market with the increase of subsidy. Second, the profit of pesticide supply chain is better after launching biopesticide and the retailer gains more profits in duopoly market than in monopoly market with the increase of farmer's biopesticide acceptance. Third, the launch of biopesticides can decrease the influence of environment pollution in both market structures, and less environmental impact in monopoly market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets up a three-stage game (technology licensing, emission tax, and output) in which one foreign firm owns both process technology and environmental technology. We compare three types of licensing strategies, process technology, environmental technology, and package licensing, showing that the licensor's preference on licensing strategy depends on the level of marginal environmental damage. Specifically, if the environmental damage caused by the production of the home firm is large, the package licensing deal is preferred by the foreign firm; otherwise process licensing is preferred. It is also found that the social welfare may be lower after licensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory boards are promoting closed distribution systems (CDSs), which are different from traditional public-access networks, that can be owned and managed by energy communities (ECs). The inclusion of local renewable energy potential and an adequate schedule of storage devices in a CDS allow cooperation among the EC's members in order to reduce operational expenditure (OPEX), providing internally competitive electricity prices with respect to those provided by publicly regulated networks and electricity markets. The CDS operators can assume a new role as the centralized energy dispatchers of generation and storage assets in order to maximize the profits of the members of the EC. This paper proposes an innovative optimal active and reactive power dispatch model for maximum community welfare conditions. A key difference between this proposal and existing social-welfare-based dispatches on public-access networks is the exclusion of the profit of the external wholesale electricity market. The focus of the proposed method is to maximize the welfare of all community members. A remuneration framework based on a collective EC with a single frontier is adopted, considering agreements between members based on locational marginal pricing (CDS-LMP). Results from an illustrative case study show a reduction of 50% in the EC's OPEX with a payback time of 6 years for investments in CDSs, renewable sources, and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversion of manufacturers' branded products outside the authorized channel leads to the emergence of gray markets (GMs), which is legal under the doctrine of first sale. Product diversion to GMs can negatively affect manufacturers' brand reputation. In this study, we analyze a manufacturer's strategic channel choice decision and its implications for social welfare in the presence of GMs and strategic consumers. We present scenarios in which the presence of GMs can either have a positive or negative impact on the manufacturer and the supply chain. Our findings indicate that the manufacturer and the supply chain become worse off due to product diversion to GMs under lower channel differentiation and high penalty cost for the loss of brand reputation due to product diversion. This effect is more severe for a decentralized supply chain, where product diversion does not directly affect the retailer's profitability due to the erosion of brand reputation. In such scenarios, we suggest that manufacturers should follow a brand-protection strategy to curb product diversion to GMs. However, manufacturers selling product categories with low brand equity can follow a market-expansion strategy. In such cases, the presence of GMs provides an alternative channel to expand sales by capturing untapped consumer segments without incurring additional market search or advertising costs. This strategy also facilitates indirect price discrimination among consumers. We find that social welfare is higher when channel differentiation is low under a decentralized supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internally displaced persons in protracted displacement may not receive optimal social work services. Governments must refrain from implicitly 'ending' displacement and uphold social care policies that really work for the displaced. By doing so, social work services become more sensitive and life-changing among people displaced for longer periods of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a counter-map of automation in social services decision-making in Australia. It aims to amplify alternative discourses that are often obscured by power inequalities and disadvantage. Redden (2005) has used counter-mapping to frame an analysis of big data in government in Canada, contrasting with 'dominant outward facing government discourses about big data applications' to focus on how data practices are both socially shaped and shaping. This paper reports on a counter-mapping project undertaken in Australia using a mixed methods approach incorporating document analysis, interviews and web scraping to amplify divergent discourses about automated decision-making. It demonstrates that when the focus of analysis moves beyond dominant discourses of neoliberal efficiency, cost cutting, accuracy and industriousness, alternative discourses of service users' experiences of automated decision-making as oppressive, harmful, punitive and inhuman(e) can be located. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of counterfactual simulation methods, this paper quantifies the role of tax–benefit policies in mitigating the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic to household income in the European Union. The tax-benefit microsimulation model for the European Union EUROMOD is used to decompose changes in the income distribution into the effects of: (i) earnings losses due to COVID-19, (ii) automatic stabilizers, (iii) monetary compensation schemes introduced during the pandemic; and (iv) COVID-19-specific reforms to taxes and benefits implemented by European Union governments. The results show a great deal of heterogeneity between countries in terms of earnings losses and the effect of tax-benefit policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In most countries, the largest contribution to cushioning the economic shock of the pandemic comes from monetary compensation schemes. Automatic stabilizers also play a role, mainly through the effects of social insurance contributions, taxes, and unemployment insurance benefits. Tax-benefit systems cushioned incomes to a large extent even among those most severely affected by the shock to earnings, with an important role for monetary compensation schemes, but also a larger stabilizing effect of unemployment insurance. Among automatic stabilizers, social assistance benefits played an important role in cushioning the income shock for the poorest quintiles among the most severely affected, but only in selected countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socioeconomic factors influencing small-scale dairy producers in the border area between Ecuador and Colombia were meticulously identified. Employing a non-experimental design, the study leveraged multivariate statistical analysis to discern key determinants. Data processing was executed using the statistical software SPSS v27, facilitating comprehensive analysis. A random survey was administered to 532 small and medium-scale dairy producers in the Carchi province of Ecuador, employing a structured questionnaire supplemented with a Likert scale for nuanced insights. Based on 35 original variables, seven determining factors were identified in dairy farms: political representation, adequate housing, equipment, innovation, empathy, profitability, social welfare, which combined explain 60.95% of the system’s variability. Such factors affect production, the level of household income, as well as their effect on the standard of living of households. Three groups were formed, the first with a low perception of economic development (Traditionalists 33.3%); the second with a better expectation of economic development (Modernizers 27.6%); and the third, identified with greater economic development (Innovators 10.3%). Each group presents cases with a low to high standard of living perspective. The groups have peculiarities in terms of their performance that can be applied to the entire population. A significant relation was established between socioeconomic factors and standard of living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deterrence of asylum seekers, including via restrictive refugee determination processes, is increasingly common in many countries. In Australia, people who sought asylum by sea between 13 August 2012 and 1 January 2014 (the 'legacy caseload'), have been subject to increasing restrictions on their social and economic rights. As a result, these people rely on support from non-government organisations, whilst they progress through Australia's refugee determination process. This research explored service providers' role in mediating the impacts of asylum policy on the legacy caseload. Findings from 20 in-depth, semi-structured interviews, conducted between December 2018 and February 2020, highlight how service providers in both statutory and community sectors in Victoria challenge and subvert deterrence policies, even as the policy environment constrains their ability to support people seeking asylum. To redress these constraints, increased availability of social supports for people seeking asylum, continuing and additional funding for non-government organisations, and increased support for workers across sectors are recommended by this study. Service providers play a crucial role in enabling the effective engagement of people seeking asylum with the refugee determination process. These findings serve as a further warning from countries seeking to emulate the 'Australian model' of harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is suffering from the devastating impacts of COVID-19, raising health, economic and social challenges. The industrial sector, along with civil society, took remarkable initiative to manage the crisis. In this paper, we explore the condition necessary for motivating an industrial entity to adopt institutional role in ensuring the well-being of their employees and indirect beneficiaries, balancing the operational goals with social best practices, which may yield a mutually beneficial outcome through a game-theoretic framework. Using a dynamic game model, we find that the sub-game perfect Nash equilibrium outcome is to provide relief during crisis by industrial sector and civil societies when the authoritative power of the industry over the society is sufficiently large. Integration of the civil societies with the industrial sector relief measures would lead to enhancement of the overall welfare of the society. These results are supported by a case study of a power sector organization in the state of West Bengal, India where the industrial entity has successfully maintained a fine balance of controlling the spread of the disease and a stable production process. The institutional initiative in terms of integration of the civil society with industrial entity is also exemplary in contributing to crisis management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an ethical analysis of online steering, the practice of personalizing search results in e-commerce based on data about users. We first outline the parallels and differences between online steering and price discrimination, arguing that online steering is more likely to benefit consumers and enhance social welfare than price discrimination. Next, we argue that while online steering does not violate any plausible specification of the equal-treatment norm, it involves an element of manipulation that is absent in price discrimination and that by itself raises ethical concerns regardless of the welfare effects of online steering. We conclude that in order to address these ethical concerns, online steering needs to satisfy a transparency condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The political conflict between Israel and Palestine has created a difficult situation for the Palestinian population, with a blockade imposed by Israel and persistent political tensions. The impact of the blockade and politics on the health and social well-being of the Palestinian population requires in-depth research to fully understand its implications. This research aims to analyze the impact of the blockade and politics on physical and mental health, access to health services, and the social welfare of Palestinian society. This research uses the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method to collect and analyze data from various related literature sources. Data was analyzed comprehensively to understand the impact of the blockade and politics on health and social well-being in Palestine. The results show that the blockade imposed by Israel has caused a severe health crisis, with increased risks of infectious diseases, shortages of medical equipment, and limited access to health services. In addition, political conflict has also caused an increase in mental disorders among the Palestinian population, as well as disturbing social instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background While digital health and social services offer promising solutions, they often overlook the perspectives and needs of older adults. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the preferences of older adults regarding the use and development of digital health and social services. Methods The survey spanned from 19 March to 31 March 2023. The study population comprised 1100 Finnish individuals aged 75 and over from across Finland. The study used qualitative inductive content analysis to examine the open-ended responses obtained in the survey. Results We identified eight main categories for the older adults’ preferences: usability, service design, and security; training, support, instructions, and information; flexibility of compatible devices; understandable language and interpretation of laboratory results; available and accessible services; desired functionalities; delivery of information for viewing, and personalization. Conclusions Older adults’ involvement in digital services’ strategy development is crucial, emphasizing value co-creation and segmentation while avoiding value co-destruction. Segmenting users and understanding their needs aids in customizing services, improving healthcare provision. Further research should assess the impact of segmentation-based training and digital device provision on older adults’ adoption of digital health and social services.

In the current challenging context, dominated by multiple crises, social policy is a strategic element on which the EU has focused in regulatory, institutional and financial terms, with the objectives of ensuring social well-being for all European citizens, creating an institutional and economic climate of social security, ensuring equal opportunities and social inclusion. In this context, we aim to develop a study of the dynamics of social policy components at the European level and to develop the impact model on the effect of social welfare on sustainable economic development based on the evolution of the main economic and social indicators at the European level. The econometric methodology used is based on the application of linear regressions on panels of fixed effects data in order to highlight the vulnerability aspects in economic development and poverty reduction from the perspective of social policies at the European level. The analysis will make it possible to highlight the main social policy guidelines at European level and to situate these approaches in the current uncertain context.

The functions of zakat collection and distribution in Indonesia are carried out by both government and private institutions. Zakat funds hold significant economic development potential. Despite rapid growth in the past decade, the true potential of zakat remains largely untapped. Various factors contribute to suboptimal zakat management in Indonesia, such as ineffective zakat collection organizations, high administrative costs, and ineffective dissemination of information on the importance of zakat payment. This study focuses on the governance of zakat institutions in Indonesia, with a primary emphasis on the National Amil Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) and authorized Private Zakat Institutions (LAZ). This paper is based on a descriptive-analytical method, and it adopts qualitative research for the analysis of the available literature. The research is crucial for building trust, ensuring efficient zakat utilization for poverty alleviation, and enhancing social welfare within the Indonesian context. This research delves into the governance of zakat institutions in Indonesia, primarily focusing on the National Amil Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) (Zakat Institution of the Republic of Indonesia) and authorised Amil Zakat Institutions (LAZ) LAZ (Private Zakat Institutions). Despite official recognition, a lingering lack of trust among some members of the Muslim community necessitates a closer examination of transparency and accountability in zakat collection and distribution. The study aims to assess the reporting practices of zakat institutions, identifying areas for improvement to bolster confidence in the Muslim community. The research holds significance in fostering trust, ensuring effective zakat utilisation for poverty alleviation, and promoting social welfare.

Objective: to analyze the efficiency of a holistic defense model and to elaborate recommendations for improving its mechanism.Methods: dialectical approach to cognition of social phenomena, allowing to analyze them in historical development and functioning in the context of the totality of objective and subjective factors, which predetermined the following research methods: formal-logical and sociological.Results: a holistic public defense model is more comprehensive than a traditional model of public defense representation. Holistic defense seeks to address extralegal needs that are a nexus to the criminal charge rather than focusing solely on addressing the current criminal charge of the individual. This model is a collaborative approach that has traditionally included social workers and civil legal workers in a team approach with a criminal lawyer. Prior research on holistic defense has demonstrated efficacy in addressing individuals’ social and legal needs thus reducing recidivism and justice system costs.Scientific novelty: this research describes and evaluates a pilot project of a holistic defense model employed in Southwest Alaska and outlines similar models in use in other jurisdictions in the United States. This evaluation supports previous research that indicates the importance of addressing defendants’ extralegal needs in reducing recidivism and costs while improving individual case outcomes. The author also discusses the policy implications of the model and provides recommendations to enhance future evaluations of a holistic defense model.Practical significance: the main provisions and conclusions of the article can be used in scientific, pedagogical and law enforcement activities when considering the issues related to holistic defense.

This research aims to analyze the relationship between political policy and social welfare, with a focus on the dynamics of the Social Assistance Program (Bansos) and its impact on electability in Indonesia. In a dynamic political context, social assistance programs have a significant role in shaping public perceptions of government performance. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. This research found that the main focus of social assistance is on the poor as the group most in need. Unfortunately, the practice of politicizing social assistance often occurs before general elections, obscuring its true purpose. Research notes cases of politicization, such as the use of the Family Hope Program as a campaign tool, detrimental to the essence of the welfare program. Regulatory reform, application of the concept of graduation, and policy focus on economic empowerment are crucial steps to maintain the effectiveness of social assistance, avoid the risk of politicization, and address the root causes of poverty in a sustainable manner. The decision of the Government and DPR to shorten the campaign period further increases the risk of politicization, especially with the existence of a socialization period which can be used to maneuver without sanctions. Criticism of the increase in the allocation of social assistance funds indicates the potential for pork barrel politics, where the government may use it selectively for the benefit of increasing electability. Increased supervision, transparency, political literacy, and a strong media role are key in overcoming the complex challenges of politicization of social assistance and pork barrel politics ahead of the elections.

Background: Relieving the total pain of patients with cancer and supporting their well-being throughout their lives are important roles of palliative and supportive care. Poverty may inhibit patients from receiving dignified end-of-life care; however, using social welfare services may reduce its impact on patients? end-of-life experiences. Nevertheless, no study has investigated which social welfare service could lead to favorable end-of-life experiences for patients living in poverty. Objective: This study aimed to describe the characteristics of users of palliative care among low-income patients and examine the difference in survival time among patients with cancer on social welfare services in a single center in Kyoto, Japan. Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Setting/Subjects: We included 220 patients using Public Assistance (PA: aid minimum income and medical/long-term care), Free/Low-Cost Medical Care (FLCMC: aid only medical care), and nonwelfare-users who newly received palliative care in 2021. Measurements: We calculated patients? survival time from the initiation of palliative care to death. In addition, we identified patients who experienced home death. Results: Compared with nonusers, FLCMC beneficiaries had shorter survival times (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80?5.22). No difference was observed among PA beneficiaries (aHR 1.19, 95% CI 0.49?2.87). No home death was observed among welfare service recipients. Conclusions: Social welfare benefits only for medical expenses may not sufficiently support dignified end-of-life care for low-income patients. Further studies are required to examine the robustness of this study considering various bio-psycho-social factors that can influence these findings, to support low-income patients with cancer on social welfare services.

In the digital age, operations can be improved by a wise use of information and technological tools. During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments faced various choices of vaccines possessing different efficacy and availability levels at different time points. In this article, we consider a two-stage vaccine ordering problem of a government from a first and only supplier in the first stage, and either the same supplier or a new second supplier in the second stage. Between the two stages, potential demand information for the vaccine is collected to update the forecast. Using dynamic programming, we derive the government's optimal vaccine ordering policy. We find that the government should select its vaccine supplier based on the disease's infection rate in the society. When the infection rate is low, the government should order nothing at the first stage and order from the supplier with a higher efficacy level at the second stage. When the disease's infection rate is high, the government should order vaccines at the first stage and switch to the other supplier with a lower efficacy level at the second stage. We extend our model to examine (i) the value of blockchain adoption and (ii) the impact of vaccines' side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public expenditure aims to achieve social objectives by improving a range of socially valuable attributes of benefit (arguments in a social welfare function). Public expenditure is typically allocated to public sector budgets, where budget holders are tasked with meeting a subset of social objectives. Decision makers require an evidence-based assessment of whether a proposed investment is likely to be worthwhile given existing levels of public expenditure. However, others also require some assessment of whether the overall level and allocation of public expenditure are appropriate. This article proposes a more general theoretical framework for economic evaluation that addresses both these questions. Using a stylized example of the economic evaluation of a new intervention in a simplified UK context, we show that this more general framework can support decisions beyond the approval or rejection of single projects. It shows that broader considerations about the level and allocation of public expenditure are possible and necessary when evaluating specific investments, which requires evidence of the range of benefits offered by marginal changes in different types of public expenditure and normative choices of how the attributes of benefit gained and forgone are valued. The proposed framework shows how to assess the value of a proposed investment and whether and how the overall level of public expenditure and its allocation across public sector budgets might be changed. It highlights that cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis can be viewed as special cases of this framework, identifying the weakness with each. • Recently developed methods of economic evaluation account for the reality of a range of social objectives and multiple constrained public sector budgets, but fail to fully account for the implications of the private consumption value of attributes and do not address the broader questions of the appropriate level and allocation of public expenditure. • This study proposes a more general theoretical framework for economic evaluation highlighting that the valuation of attributes of benefit and the extent to which public expenditure affects them is necessary to address whether a proposed investment is good value and whether the level and allocation of public expenditure are appropriate. This framework exposes the assumptions embedded in cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis and identifies why neither address these questions adequately. • We provide a stylized example of a proposed investment in a simplified UK context with 2 public sectors (healthcare and Adult Social Care) and a private sector. We show that the information required to evaluate a proposed investment also provides an estimate of the marginal value of public funds across public sectors that can be used to inform broader public expenditure decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ecosocial approach implies integrating social and ecological sustainability on all levels of social work practice (Boetto, British Journal of Social Work, 2017:47(1), 48–67). This survey study explored the frequency of ecosocial work practices in Finnish social work and the factors that enable or hinder adopting ecosocial work in social work practice. The study found that ecosocial work practices are quite rarely applied in Finnish social work. It indicates that personal interest in and knowledge of the ecosocial approach, organizational practices, and client attitudes play an important role. Social welfare professionals as well as the organizations where they work should be informed of environmental issues affecting human wellbeing and of the ecosocial approach in social work. This study examines the present state of the ecosocial approach in Finnish social work and provides opportunities to reflect on the relationship between social work and the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policies that promote the common good may be politically infeasible if legislators representing 'losing' constituencies are punished for failing to promote their district's welfare. We investigate how varying the local and aggregate returns to a policy affects voter support for their incumbent. In our first study, we find that an incumbent who favours a welfare-enhancing policy enjoys a discontinuous jump in support when their district moves from losing to at least breaking even, while the additional incremental political returns for the district doing better than breaking even are modest. This feature of voter response, which we replicate, has significant implications for legislative politics generally and, in particular, how to construct politically feasible social welfare-enhancing policies. In a second study, we investigate the robustness of this finding in a competitive environment in which a challenger can call attention to a legislator's absolute and relative performance in delivering resources to their district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mining companies naturally have the potential to harm the environment, and CSR is a step towards achieving a good image. The harmony and balance between corporate image and rural development through social welfare indicators is an essential aspect of mining companies’ CSR practices. Purpose: This study aims to analyze the performance of the agriculture CSR program on the corporate image and social welfare of mining companies. Design/methodology/approach: Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis techniques based on partial least squares (PLS), this study employed purposive sampling to determine the research sample based on one criterion. The sample consisted of 97 out of 117 program recipients. Findings/Result: The findings show that the economic, social, and environmental performance of CSR programs in the agricultural sector positively and significantly influences corporate image and social welfare. Further analysis of the formulation of farming business analysis indicates that mining companies' CSR programs in agriculture can be assessed as sustainable. Conclusion: The three performance aspects of the agricultural CSR program affect the corporate image and social welfare of mining companies. Originality/value (State of Art): This research presents novelty in the management field with empirical research findings, especially related to the comprehensive influence on mining companies and surrounding communities by the three performances of the agricultural CSR programs implemented, which were not explored before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Social welfare is always one of the important topics in developed and developing countries, and they assume it as an effective factor to examine the performance of policymakers and economic planners, which can be influenced by many factors. One of the factors affecting conditions of people’s life is urbanization and migration from rural areas to cities. Method: In this research, the non-linear effect of urbanization on the welfare of the people living in diverse provinces of Iran has been investigated in the period of 2011-2019. In addition to the urbanization, other variables, such as the average household income and the employment level of adults have also been studied. Findings: The results of the research by using the dynamic panel data approach indicate that there is an inverted U relationship between urbanization and social welfare. In other words, with the increase of urbanization, the welfare level increases at first, but after reaching a maximum level, it declines Other variables were also used, such as average household income and adult employment level, and it was found that there was again a positive and direct relationship with social welfare, and increasing them resulted in growth of welfare too. Discussion: It is clear living in cities will not necessarily increase the level of welfare; therefore, in order to prevent the migration of villagers to cities and the increase of marginalization and the overshadowing of the wellbeing of people living in cities, the level of health facilities, education, employment, and general well-being at the level of villages and non-urban areas should be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economía (Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán) is the property of Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Facultad de Economia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of REDER: Revista de Estudios Latinoamericanos sobre Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres is the property of Corporacion Gestion de Riesgos y Desastres (GRID-Chile) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In many polluting industries, firms with high environmental quality (HEQ) products often license their new environmental technology to firms with low environmental quality (LEQ) products. After accepting the licensing arrangement, firms with LEQ products can produce both the HEQ and LEQ products and compete with the licensor. What type of licensing mode is optimal under such circumstance becomes an interesting question and warrants analysis. To analyze this issue, we construct a vertical product differentiation duopoly model with multi-product competition. The results show that two-part tariff licensing is always the optimal strategy for the licensor, and it is the optimal licensing strategy as well to improve the environment and social welfare only when the degree of product environmental quality differentiation is relatively high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network effects encourage the innovative firms to expand their market size by licensing the technology to the third-party manufacturers who provide substitutable but incompatible products in a duopoly. Moreover, network effects render consumer valuation inherently dynamic. Consumer perceptions of the sales quantities are constantly changing, causing the impact of network effects is dynamic over time. Therefore, we examine technology licensing and quantity competition in a dynamic duopoly including an innovative firm and a third-party manufacturer, and we consider that consumer utility increases with the dynamic impact of network effects. Because the innovative firm can strategically choose different licensing models in a dynamic production game, we derive the firms' subgame-perfect Nash equilibrium decisions and profits and analyze the effects of different licensing models and different network effects on firm's instantaneous and steady-state equilibrium decisions. Dynamic technology licensing contracts will benefit the innovative firm more than a no licensing contract in a long term, especially when the network effect is stronger. Moreover, when the network effect is weak, the dynamic royalty licensing reduces the third-party manufacturer's production quantities, while the dynamic fixed fee licensing induces a higher total market demand which increases the impact of network effects and thus benefits the innovative firm, consumer and society. Interestingly, when the network effect is stronger, a dynamic royalty licensing is more effective for mitigating market competition by increasing the sales quantities and prices of the licensor and licensee because of the significant impact of network effects, thus benefiting the innovative firm and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe mental illness (SMI) has long been a focus of public health attention. Due to stigma, people with SMI face strong social discrimination and are one of the most vulnerable groups in a society. Building a sound social welfare system is of paramount importance to address their vulnerabilities. China has accumulated a large body of policy practice, but there is still a lack of critical review in this area. Drawing on the framework developed by WHO, this article provides a comprehensive review of China's policy progress in addressing the health care, rehabilitation, life support and social participation needs of people with SMI, as well as the collaborative governance system and detailed policy arrangements. This review raises a number of policy‐related issues for further consideration, such as strengthening community mental health services, improving life support for people with SMI, and reconciling the values of public safety and patients' rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop an endogenous growth model with public consumption and infrastructure services provided by two-tier governments. Growth performance and welfare implication are compared under the centralized and decentralized fiscal federal systems. In general, there is a trade-off between welfare and growth due to conflicts of interest and asymmetric information between central and local governments. By numerical simulations, we show that the optimal fiscal federalism should impose restrictions on expenditure−GDP ratio, rather than on expenditure−budget ratio or central−local expenditure ratio, because expenditure−GDP ratio can align the incentives of the two-tier governments. Furthermore, it is suggested that decentralized fiscal systems are generally superior to the centralized system because the efficiency loss overweighs the agency cost. The model is then applied to analyzing different growth experiences in the West and China by institutional and cultural differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore and elucidate the interplay between criminal justice, social welfare, and tourism policies, and the role of law in promoting environmental preservation. The study is conducted by analyzing a number of policies and development implementation as well as response and output to the current community to create appropriate mitigation efforts in the form of criminal policies, not just in the field of jurisprudence (mere law), and three main pillars of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The research is expected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness of these domains, particularly focusing on how legal frameworks can support and enhance environmental preservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study stems from the contemporary need to establish a connection between heritage and citizens, a fundamental element in heritage preservation and a safeguard for authenticity and identity values.1 The study bridges the gap between theory and practice by proposing a methodology based on diagnosis and subsequent proposals to bring heritage closer to the local population. The case study used for this purpose has been the city of Seville, Spain, and it primarily focuses on built heritage and the Historic Urban Landscape. The methodology outlined in this article comprises three phases: (1) Survey and Data Collection, involving the design and implementation of a perception-focused survey; (2) Results Analysis and Evaluation, where the obtained data is statistically analysed, subsequently evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively with a proposed a KPI system; (3) Strategic Planning: finally, as a final outcome, the study utilises the previous evaluation to formulate objectives and an action plan to enhance the local community's heritage relationship. It is expected that the proposed methodology for this case study will be applicable to other similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study exploits rich data sources to investigate city-level patterns of internal migration policies in response to the reform of Chinese household registration and the economic, political and sociocultural determinants that drive policy approaches. First, we collected and systematically coded policy documents from 231 cities. Cluster analyses showed that the majority of cities (63%) adopted less lenient selection policies while offering integrative social welfare policies. Rights to internal migration remain selectively granted in China, yet rights to welfare have become more equitable than they were in the past because of the reform. Second, multinomial regression analyses showed that economic development and growth are related to selection policies that are more lenient towards high-skilled migrants, whereas top-down controls of superior governments, local politicians' characteristics (e.g. tenure concerns and hometown favouritism) and migrants' sociocultural environments (e.g. pre-existing labour disputes) account for both selection and integration policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategic cooperation has garnered significant attention in business. In this study, we explored the operating mechanisms of supply chains utilizing three Stackelberg models, in the following ascending order of cooperation level: price only, marketing cost sharing, and cross-shareholding. Further, we investigated the impact of cooperation on prices, marketing efforts, and profits, and analyzed the strategic cooperation preferences of different supply chain members. The results show that the influence of the level of cooperation on the wholesale and selling price is nonlinear. Interestingly, increased levels of cooperation do not always result in better outcomes. The marketing cost-sharing strategy aggravates the marketing burden on retailers. In contrast, the cross-shareholding strategy not only increases the total marketing effort level, but also efficiently reduces the burden of marketing on retailers. Moreover, all cooperation strategies solely benefit manufacturers rather than retailers, and not all of them improve the supply chain's performance. Finally, the cross-shareholding cooperation strategy only maximizes the consumer surplus and social welfare under certain conditions. Overall, our study describes the operational mechanisms of diverse cooperative strategies and provides managerial guidance for those seeking to enhance marketing efforts and economic and social performance using a cooperation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societies are confronted with the dilemma that need satisfaction requires transparent individual needs. We study the effect of information about others' needs on the distribution of a joint endowment in a three-player network exchange game in a laboratory experiment. Need levels are exogenously given and either transparent (known to all three network members) or opaque (only known to the players themselves). The three players negotiate in dyads until two players agree on a distribution. We expect that the transparency of need thresholds raises need satisfaction but lowers equality. The results suggest that the members of the dyad who agree on the distribution can satisfy their own need thresholds even when information about thresholds is opaque. The effect of transparency on the remaining network member is antithetical: while transparency increases the rate of need satisfaction, it decreases the average share of allocations when needs are low. In the opaque condition, allocated shares are larger, but need satisfaction is lower. This reveals the ambivalent distributive effects of transparent need thresholds: Transparency helps those with the highest need thresholds, but it can hurt those with lower need thresholds, and it barely affects the ones with the most influence on the decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first academic paper to consider the role that parliamentarians play in access to justice. Under austerity, England and Wales has seen cuts to legal aid and local authority budgets that have impacted the ability of people to get help for legal problems in social welfare law from the advice sector. Members of the UK Parliament and Members of the Senedd Cymru are increasingly being called upon by their constituents to fill the resultant gap in advice. This paper draws on interviews with parliamentarians that draw out the nature of the role they are now playing in access to justice across three key areas of civil justice: welfare benefits; housing; and immigration. The growth of parliamentarians as figures in access to justice has thus far been largely neglected but is crucial to grasp, as the implications for the future of access to justice are massive. The paper calls for more research to better understand the phenomenon but urges caution that elected representatives should not be considered as an adequate substitute for a properly functioning, adequately funded advice sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic and the great flood of 2021 significantly impacted society. However, masjids have proven effective institutions in disaster management efforts, particularly in social welfare. This study examines the role of masjids in managing disasters in Malaysia, specifically during the 2021 great flood and the COVID-19 pandemic. The qualitative research involves in-depth interviews based on case studies, with the results analyzed thematically. A total of 14 masjids as informants were selected from across Malaysia, including nine of the best masjids in 2021 and five with disaster management experience. The findings reveal that masjids are crucial in disaster management, encompassing services, health, placement, incentives, and infrastructure. These contributions help effectively manage the community during disasters. The study highlights two key factors contributing to the success of masjids in disaster management: the core concern of maqasid shar'iah and the synergy of da'wah in strengthening the relationship between masjids and the community. The implications of this study contribute to both theory and practice, particularly in designing ideal masjid management, preserving community welfare, and maintaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers a mixed duopoly two‐sided market of platforms in which a private firm competes with a public firm in a linear city model with fixed demand of full coverage. We examine whether prices of platforms are lower in the mixed duopoly market than in the standard pure duopoly market in which two private firms compete. We show that introducing a public competitor may or may not induce lower prices of the private platform than introducing a private firm, depending on the quality of the public platform service. In particular, if the quality of the public platform is superior, the prices of the platforms are lower than when it competes with the private rival, whereas they are higher if the quality is lower. We also show that the private firm invests more than the public firm. This has the policy implication that maintaining lower platform prices by introducing a competing public platform will not be sustainable in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan dan Ilmu Sosial (JMPIS) is the property of Dinasti Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Empowering people with disabilities and mainstreaming their needs into the national agenda should increase their development opportunities, improve development outcomes, and enhance their quality of life. However, people with disabilities face numerous barriers that impede their full participation in the social, economic, and cultural aspects of life. The Department of Social Welfare plays an essential role in improving the well-being of people with disabilities and makes significant efforts to empower them and combat exclusion. Therefore, this study focuses on examining the role of the social welfare office in empowering people with disabilities. The study aims to identify key factors that facilitate or hinder the empowerment process within the department for persons with disabilities. In this qualitative research, data was collected through focus group discussions with officials from the Department of Social Welfare in Putrajaya. Two main themes emerged from the analysis, namely the strength and support system and the limitations faced by the Department of Social Welfare. The findings emphasize that monitoring progress and offering opportunities for people with disabilities can contribute to their empowerment. Collaboration between the Department of Social Welfare, other government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other parties is critical in promoting positive social change. By leveraging their respective strengths, resources, and expertise, they can create innovative solutions, implement effective policies, and significantly impact society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]