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The twin challenge of increasing capacity to accommodate growing travel demand while simultaneously decarbonizing the transport sector places enormous pressure on public transport (PT) systems globally. Arguably the most fundamental policy choice and trade-off in designing and operating PT systems in the coming years will be service levels versus cost implications. On the presumption that public (citizen and consumer) opinion is crucial to making such choices, we study this question with a focus on Switzerland by using a factorial experiment (n = 1′634) that considers the frequency and geographic coverage of PT services as well as the cost implications for PT users and taxpayers. We find that support for increased frequency of connections and more services to peripheral regions is high as long as such service expansion is funded mainly by the government, rather than PT users. Preferences are generally consistent across subgroups, except in the case of government funding, where preferences differ by political orientation. This suggests that there is substantial demand across the board for PT services expansion funded primarily by the government, but that the question of funding is also potentially politically the most controversial. While our findings are specific to a country with a highly developed PT system, our research provides a template for similar research in other countries that struggle with a similar challenge. • Public supports expanding public transport (PT) services, favoring increased connections and reduced personal costs. • Increasing public funding is key for public support. • Personal affectedness and political orientation have minimal impact on preferences with the exception of government funding. • Findings reveal nuanced support for demand-based PT service provision – as long as ticket prices are reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sustainable urban mobility transitions impact emotional commuting experiences. • Introducing a new commuting mode impacts the emotional experiences of commuters. • A new commuting mode impacts the emotional experiences of non-adopters. • The emotional commuting experiences are dynamic. Sustainable urban mobility transitions require various measures that impact peoples' everyday lives. Implementing these measures, such as transport infrastructure projects, requires public acceptance. However, there is a lack of research on how sustainable urban mobility transitions impact commuters' emotional experiences. This study aims to understand the formation of emotional commuting experiences and to analyse the impact of the introduction of a tramway on those experiences. The findings are mainly based on qualitative data (33 interviews) but also on quantitative data on the participants' commuting behaviour collected in a Finnish city, Tampere, which launched a new tramline a couple of months prior to data collection. The research shows a variety of triggers for negative and positive emotional commuting experiences and highlights the role of critical incidents in the formation of emotional experiences. It reveals how launching a tram in a city impacts emotional commuting experiences on many levels, even for those who do not change their main mode of commuting. It also shows the dynamics involved in emotional commuting experiences, demonstrating how emotional experiences in the construction phase may differ greatly from those after the new commuting mode has been launched. Based on the findings, we suggest that in order to guarantee public support for sustainable urban transport projects, practitioners should recognise the wide range of emotional experiences associated with commuting, even for those who do not adopt the new mode of transport, and take these experiences into account not only during the lengthy infrastructure-building phase but also during the utilisation phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments will have a key role in establishing the policy environment needed to optimise the social outcomes associated with the evolution of autonomous vehicles (AVs). However, little is known about the extent to which the general public would support the diverse range of policies that could be implemented across human transport and product delivery AV applications. To address this deficit, the aim of the present study was to explore public support for a range of human transport and product delivery AV policies. In total, 1078 adult Australians completed an online survey that assessed transport-related attitudes and behaviours, including support for 11 AV policies pertaining to human transport and product delivery AV applications. Results suggest policies that ensure walking and cycling paths are prioritised for active transport (supported by 65%), limit the numbers of personal flying passenger AVs in the airspace (62%) and delivery bots on streets (64%), and ensure that those with mobility limitations have priority access to autonomous product deliveries (60%) are likely to be acceptable to the general community. To a somewhat lesser extent, limiting the operating hours for AV delivery services (51%) and banning the advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages on the surface areas of delivery AVs (50%) are also likely to be broadly accepted. • Autonomous vehicles will provide driverless transport for humans and products. • Government policy will assist in optimising benefits and minimising disbenefits. • Australians support policies that facilitate active transport and reduce congestion. • Policies that increase costs and ban autonomous alcohol delivery had lower support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the question of 'can short messages be effective in increasing public support for a complex new technology (hydrogen)?', this study uses a representative national survey in Australia to analyze the differences and variations in subjective support for hydrogen in response to four differently framed short messages. The findings of this study show that short messages can increase social acceptance, but the effects depend on how strongly the message is framed in terms of its alignment with either an economic or environmental values framework. Furthermore, the effects depend on the social and cultural context of the receiver of the message. • Overall, survey respondents were supportive of hydrogen energy. • Short messages increased social acceptance. • The size of effect depends on content of short message. • Economic benefits and 100% renewable framings have the highest effect. • The effect of the message varies by the respondent characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Besides the firm's individual characteristics, knowledge agglomeration in the firm's environment is a clear determinant of receiving public support for business R&D. • This role is heterogeneous depending on the dimension of knowledge agglomeration considered and the level of governance of public agencies. • National and European agencies seem to value technological relatedness in their allocation of subsidies, while regional agencies focus more on firms in sectors in which the region enjoys a competitive advantage. • The level of sectoral and regional concentration of knowledge affects not only the firms' probability of participating in subsidy programs but also the amount of the subsidy awarded to supported firms. In this paper, we study the role played by different dimensions of knowledge agglomeration as determinants of public subsidies to business R&D. For the analysis, we use firm-level information from the Spanish Panel of Technological Innovation (PITEC) and combine these data with information from other sources at the sectoral–regional level, obtaining an unbalanced panel of 28,082 observations of Spanish firms. Our results suggest that knowledge agglomeration affects both the probability of participation in subsidy programs and the subsidy amount awarded to supported firms. This effect is heterogeneous depending on the dimension of knowledge agglomeration considered (technological relatedness, regional specialization, intrasectoral or upstream knowledge pool, technological cooperation) and the level (regional, national, or European) of governance of public agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networking sites offer a vast platform for sharing various types of content, such as information, photos, videos, and audio clips. However, the credibility of the information shared on these sites is a significant concern since there is no prior verification process as the information spreads across the networks. This increases the chances of disseminating false or misleading information, often called rumors. The spread of rumors in today's information environment creates severe problems for the credibility of information and public confidence. The quick spread of rumors, frequently conveyed via social media and other online platforms, can affect public opinion and potentially have real-world repercussions. Maintaining the integrity of information ecosystems and averting the potentially damaging impacts of disinformation require detecting and mitigating rumors. In today's social media and online communication age, it is crucial to identify rumors to prevent their spread and mitigate their potential negative impact. In this study, our primary goal is to discover and identify individual sources of rumors. This work addresses two aspects of rumor management: firstly, identifying the difference between rumors and facts, and secondly, tracking the source of the rumor. In conjunction with the attributes, state-of-the-art methods such as SVM, AdaBoost, Random Forest, Logistic Regression, and Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN) are used to accomplish these goals. This approach contributes to the broader goal of combating disinformation and preserving the Accuracy of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine the factors influencing labor productivity and sales growth among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) within a middle-income economy. Although MSMEs play a pivotal role in employment within middle-income countries, they often display a lower economic value-added, pointing to underlying challenges in labor productivity. Using a longitudinal dataset of firms and employing both quantile regressions and machine learning techniques, we find that SMEs led by older, male, and more seasoned managers tend to exhibit higher productivity. Similarly, companies with a larger proportion of highly educated employees, affiliation to business groups, and engagement in R&D activities demonstrate superior performance. Finally, to improve the performance of MSMEs in developing economies, our results suggest that implementing targeted, well-defined vertical public support programs would be an effective public policy approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccination mandates have long been an effective tool in increasing vaccination rates and reducing the potential for disease outbreaks. In the wake of COVID-19, opposition to mandates in the K-12 setting has garnered more attention, and policymakers opposed to them have become more active. This study sought to assess whether these efforts are supported by the U.S. public. We fielded a large, national survey (N = 16,461) from January to April of 2022 to assess U.S. public opinion about seven specific vaccination mandates (diphtheria, tetanus, & pertussis (DTaP); polio; chickenpox; measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); hepatitis; human papillomavirus (HPV); and COVID-19) in K-12 educational settings. We found that Americans are overwhelmingly supportive of all vaccination mandates with support ranging from a high 90 percent of respondents for DTaP, polio, chickenpox, and MMR to a low of 68 percent for COVID-19. Individuals who deemed vaccines safe and important, those with trust in the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, urban residents, and ethnic and racial minorities tended to be consistently more supportive. Perceptions about vaccine effectiveness were positively associated with mandate support in most cases, as was trust in medical doctors. Respondents who believed that vaccines cause autism, those with better health and more trust in religious leaders tended to be consistently more opposed. Women were generally more supportive of mandates except for HPV and COVID-19. Ideology and partisanship affected opinion for COVID-19 as did trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We found no effects for income or education. Vaccination mandates in K-12 have broad support among the American public, even in more controversial cases such as HPV and COVID-19. Vocal opposition and growing interest by policymakers to limit or undo vaccination mandates are not supported by the broader public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy support is often measured by asking respondents to evaluate policies linked to an isolated policy goal. However, in real-world settings, policies usually have multiple implications. We study how people react when policies have negative implications for other valued goals, considering both their level of support and the certainty of their choices. Using survey experiment data collected in Germany in 2020 (N = 2233) that measures people's support for climate policies with or without information about negative implications for different societal groups, we find that people decrease their policy support and become less certain about their choices when faced with negative implications for vulnerable groups. This effect is partially moderated by people's climate change concern and their support for government assistance for such groups. We thus contribute to the understanding of people's policy decision-making, with implications for the measurement of public support and the development of effective climate policies. • People decrease their climate policy support and become less certain about their choices when faced with trade-offs. • Their reaction is partially moderated by people's climate change concern and their support for conflicting goals with negative implications for vulnerable groups. • People's support for climate policies is measured with a survey experiment to approximate real-world conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Preference by groups for COVID-19 vaccine by public is yet to be researched in Bangladesh. • Primary data were collected via an online survey (n = 2291) during countrywide lockdown (December 2020–January 2021). • Strong public preference of early vaccination was towards the frontline workers, severely sick and the elderly. • Preference rankings varied across sociodemographic factors including differences between urban and rural residents. • Effective communication on vaccine delivery are needed for any future health crisis for effective national immunization. One of the most challenging aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the inability to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines to fight the pandemic. Many governments around the globe had to prioritize and perform a triage in distributing the vaccines due to the limited supply as well as a lack of financial strength to acquire a sufficient number of vaccines in time. The present study assessed the public opinion in Bangladesh regarding vaccination prioritization strategy and its associated aspects. Due to the infectious nature of the viral transmission, the study used an online survey and collected a sample of 2291 respondents, distributed proportionally across sex, and income groups. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression modelling were utilized to conduct the analyses. The results emphasized unanimous preference of prioritized vaccination leaning towards the frontline workers, the severely sick and the elderly. However, the segregation across ethnicity was noted with no major preference among sexes or religion. The results reinforce the Bangladesh government's undertaken strategy of prioritization. However, the preference rankings varied across sociodemographic factors including self-assessed COVID-19 knowledge and income tiers, among others. The findings underline the necessity of improved risk communication strategies to ensure public confidence and conformity to vaccination efforts and their effective deployment across the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores local public support for nature protected areas (PAs) to identify primary social factors explaining support. The model was built and tested using survey data collected from approximately 2300 individuals living inside or near six Protected Areas in five different European countries using both face-to-face and online methods. Results show that perceived social impacts are a key and consistent predictor of the level of stated support, despite the wide range of potential impacts. Also important is the strength of a person's sense of place attachment to the PA landscapes or area, as well as institutional trust. Other factors were only significant at some sites indicating the importance of local context. Results indicated that stated support is linked with pro-environmental behaviour when using the protected area, indicating the importance of supportive public attitudes for behaviour that is supportive of ecological effectiveness. The link between stated support and volunteering was less clear indicating that this is also influenced by other factors. The model is intended to inform theoretical understanding of the factors affecting public support, but also as a step towards developing a predictive tool for practitioners taking into consideration a broader range of factors in assessing public support and highlighting problem areas for action. As new ambitious biodiversity conservation targets are set internationally, our study will be useful for practitioners and researchers regarding what future management approaches and policies need to focus on in order to maximise public support, minimize conflicts in PAs and increase pro-environmental behaviour. • Stated support for PAs is related to perceived social impacts and place attachment. • Several other factors influence stated support in certain contexts. • Active support is related to stated support for private sphere pro-PA behaviour. • Public support is important for both social equity and management effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently reiterated US support for the expansion of the Abraham Accords and called for renewed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. As highlighted by this volume's authors, the Accords are the most significant regional peacemaking achievement in decades, having already reduced Arab-Israeli tensions—particularly at the government level—and provided opportunities for Arab states to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians. The changing regional security architecture can only be welcomed by the United States. Yet, due to political authoritarianism in the region, the Accords may fall short of their potential if the economic gains fail to reach marginalized populations. This essay contends that trade relations that support job creation and access to water and energy may increase public support. Just as a return to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations is important, political reform in the Arab countries is needed to make the Accords successful by bringing more economic benefits to the Arab streets and ensuring that there will not be a "Cold Peace." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Trust in police underpins support to give DNA in long-term missing person cases. • High public support for close relatives to give DNA in missing person cases. • Support and concern differed depending on missing person case circumstance. The identification of long-term missing persons and unidentified human remains is a global challenge. Many people stay on missing persons registers, with unidentified human remains stored for extended periods in mortuaries around the world. Research exploring public and/or family support for providing DNA in long-term missing persons cases is scarce. The aims of this study were to examine whether trust in police predicted the level of support for providing DNA and explore public/family support and concerns for providing DNA in such cases. Trust in police was measured through two widely used empirical attitude scales; "The Measures of Police Legitimacy and Procedural Justice". Support and concerns for giving DNA were measured through four hypothetical missing persons case scenarios. The results showed more positive attitudes towards police legitimacy and procedural justice significantly predicted support, with the percentage level of positive support across the four case types as follows: cases involving a long-term missing child (89%), elderly adult with dementia (83%), young adult with a history of runaway (76%), with the lowest level of support for an adult with an estranged family (73%). Participants also reported more concerns about providing DNA when the missing person circumstances involved family estrangement. Understanding levels of public/family support and concerns around providing DNA to police in missing persons cases is vital to ensure that DNA collection practices reflect what the public/family support and, wherever possible, alleviate public concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a survey-based experiment to examine public support for minimum wages. To start, we elicit respondents moral assessments of two labor market systems: one with a minimum wage and one without. We find that gender and political affiliation are the strongest predictors of moral assessments, where men and Republicans find the lack of a minimum wage less problematic. Next, we present four pairs of hypothetical employment outcomes and ask respondents to "vote" for their preferred system. Estimating the trade-off between moral attitudes and unemployment, we find the average respondent is willing to tolerate a large increase in unemployment, 4.7 percentage points, before voting against the minimum wage system. Our point estimates, however, mask considerable polarization: 42% always choose the minimum wage system and 27% always choose the no minimum wage system. Overall, Republicans are 14.5 percentage points less likely to choose the minimum wage system, though they exhibit little difference in willingness to tolerate additional unemployment. Notably, racial and gender equity considerations matter. The average respondent is almost 20 percentage points less likely to choose the minimum wage system when told minorities and females are disproportionately affected. Finally, the average respondent is 7 percentage points less likely to support a system featuring a minimum wage of $15 relative to $10.10 or $7.25, all else equal, suggesting that support for minimum wages may not be driven by a desire to maximize aggregate income for low-wage workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The pandemic pushed vaccine mandates to the forefront of global public health policy. • This special issue synthesises the findings of research in the field. • Scholars employ a range of methodologies to study speculative and real mandates. • Scholars study vaccine mandates at different stages of the policy cycle. • Scholars analyse mandates' impact on vaccine coverage rates and wider experiences. A workshop on mandatory vaccination was pitched to the World Public Health Congress in 2019 and the resultant special issue was pitched to Vaccine in 2020. During this project, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed vaccine policy to the forefront of global public health policy, and the imposition of vaccine mandates prompted a new wave of scholarship in the field. This introductory article employs the heuristic of Lasswell's (1956) policy cycle to synthesise the findings of the articles in the special issue. It considers the temporal lifetime of mandates and highlights findings regarding: the emergence of mandates as a policy option, public support and policy instrument design, what matters in the implementation of mandates, and what we can learn from evaluating them. The second half of the paper categorizes the included papers in terms of what aspects of mandates they study and the methods they employ to do so, in order to formulate a guide for future researchers of vaccine mandates. Scholars study either speculative or existing mandates – research can address several stages of the policy cycle or just one of them, ranging from attitudinal research to implementation studies and impact studies. Historical and contextual studies that take deep dives into a particular mandate are a much needed resource for studying emerging mandates, too, and scoping and framework- building work will undoubtedly be valuable in understanding and appreciating the wealth of knowledge production in this growing field. This special issue can serve as a roadmap for a consolidation of this interdisciplinary research agenda, and provide a helpful resource for decisionmakers at this historical juncture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of marine protected areas is a timely issue, as the fight against biodiversity loss depends significantly on how effective these areas are. This article explores a key condition for meeting the challenge of improving conservation policies, as part of the global targets for biodiversity conservation, following the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The paper explores the determinants of social acceptance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by local communities impacted directly by MPAs designation. We focus on the Port-Cros National Park (France), which was established in 1963. The park has seen its governance, perimeter and internal zoning evolve over time, generating local opposition and underlining the importance of acceptance by local communities. This article highlights the factors that play a role in the social acceptance of this National Park based on the results of a questionnaire survey including 569 residents of the municipalities in and around the protected area. The approach we followed is part of a European research project that has developed a methodological protocol to identify interactions between social parameters that characterise the level of support and has been applied in 20 national parks. Our results reveal a high level of social acceptance for the National Park, with four main factors influencing acceptance: perceptions of the social impacts of the park, trust in management authorities, sociodemographic characteristics and conditions for citizen participation. Spatial disparities are also demonstrated. Our analysis also enables us to explain the components of constrained acceptance: this opens possibilities to explore the conditions under which local communities can feel more empowered and participate in the governance of the protected area. • The Port-Cros National Park is highly supported by local communities. • The national park has a greater impact on the inhabitants of the islands in the heart of the park. • 4 main parameters influence social acceptance: perception, trust, socio-demographics, participation conditions. • Constrainted acceptance is linked to negative perceptions of social impacts and distrust of the national park authorities. • Residents wish to be involved in decision-making, raising the challenge of inclusive and innovative governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposable plastic bag charge is a proposed strategy to mitigate their use, but it may significantly impact daily life due to their frequent use. Understanding the segmentation of public support for charge is crucial for informed policymaking. This study conducted a questionnaire survey among a Singaporean population, collecting data from 1953 respondents on their demographic profiles as well as their behaviour, attitudes, and willingness to pay for disposable plastic bags. The survey data suggest a supportive environment in Singapore for introducing charges on disposable plastic bags with most respondents preferred a charge of SGD 0.10 or below. By employing Cramér's V test and latent class analysis, we have affirmed the existence of differential policy support and willingness-to-pay, identifying five distinct classes of respondents: Non-supporters, Ideal supporters, Cost-sensitive supporters, Moderate Pricing Supporters, and High Pricing Supporters, with some classes showing distinct profiles in terms of age, education level, and monthly income. Further analysis of the effects of imposed charges revealed that a charge that is too low appears to have a limited impact on reducing the overall usage of disposable plastic bags, whereas a charge that is too high is likely to yield diminishing returns and could potentially lead to an increase in public complaints. These results could provide crucial policy implications for addressing plastic issues and highlight that charging for disposable plastic bags is not just an end goal but a means to promote reduced consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is one of first large scale evaluations of the impact of government subsidies for tourism firms during the COVID-19 pandemic. We use the population of micro, small, and medium sized tourism enterprises from Croatia, one of the most tourism-intensive European economies, to investigate whether receipt and the size of subsidies helped distressed companies to stay in business and retain their employees during the first two years of the pandemic. In this study, a novel perspective of grant size effect is introduced to examine the effect of public stimuli on the tourism industry. Positive effects of support on firm survival and employment of subsidised firms are inversely proportional to the size of support. Thus, the findings indicate the need for a dynamic and nuanced approach to public support that considers firms' heterogeneity in the tourism sector. This study could help policymakers manage potential future crises more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Devastating incidents in which children have accessed their parents' unsecured guns and used them to kill themselves or others have occurred with alarming frequency across the United States. Although strong evidence exists that safe-storage laws decrease firearm-related child deaths and suicides, the United States does not regulate gun storage at the federal level, and few states have gun storage laws. In this context, the current study examines public support for safe-storage laws, and the association of such support with racial and political attitudes. Using survey-experimental data from a population-matched national sample recruited by YouGov (n = 1018), we find widespread support among the American public for safe-storage legislation, both globally and in the specific case of criminalizing parents' unsafe gun storage. Public support for holding parents accountable is highest when young children obtain especially deadly guns (AR-15) and shoot others. Our findings further reveal that public attitudes toward safe-storage laws are racialized and politicized. White nationalists report lower support for safe-storage laws, and this association is mediated by right-wing political views. • Strong evidence exists that safe storage legislation reduces gun violence. • Most Americans support safe storage legislation. • Public attitudes toward safe storage laws are racialized and politicized. • White nationalists are less supportive of safe storage laws. • Political views mediate the relationship of white nationalism to gun attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To motivate public participation in climate change mitigation, both "carrot" policies that create positive incentives for mitigated carbon and "stick" policies that create negative incentives for emitted carbon have been widely applied. Given the joint deployment of these measures, a key question is whether they are compatible with each other. Focusing on the Low-Carbon Reward Scheme (LCRS) and carbon taxes, two prominent proposals on China's climate policy agenda, this study evaluates how one incentive policy affects public support for the other. The results of a large survey experiment with Hangzhou residents indicate a two-way crowding-out effect, wherein introducing the LCRS diminished support for the tax, albeit primarily among LCRS proponents, and introducing the tax reduced support for the LCRS. Aligning with the proposed account, crowding out was driven by a decrease in policy effectiveness and fairness perceptions. These findings reveal a contradictory relationship between carrot and stick policies at the citizen level and illuminate the underlying mechanism. • Both carrot and stick policies are applied to motivate climate mitigation behaviors. • We identify a two-way crowding-out effect between these policies in public opinion. • Introducing a stick (carbon tax) reduces support for a carrot (low-carbon reward). • Introducing a carrot reduces support for a stick among people favoring the carrot. • Crowding out is driven by weakened policy effectiveness and fairness perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Investigates the dynamic interactions between technological, economic and societal aspects, with the aim of clarifying enablers for and barriers to the implementation of industrial CCS in the North Sea Port industrial cluster. • Brings together stakeholders from industry, government and society to collaboratively build a qualitative model of the system dynamics of the implementation of industrial CCS in the North Sea Port industrial. • Demonstrates the interdependency of societal and techno-economic aspects in the implementation of CCS. • Shows the need for transparent public engagements, and decisiveness and commitment from government and industry to successfully and responsibly implement CCS. Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is considered an option for energy-intensive industry to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Although it is well known that CCS faces technological, economic and societal challenges, how these challenges interact in a real-life industry has not yet been investigated collectively in a place-specific context. This study fills that gap by looking at the dynamic interactions between technological, economic and societal aspects, with the aim of clarifying enablers for and barriers to the implementation of industrial CCS in the North Sea Port industrial cluster, and identifying a course of action. The analysis was based on literature, interviews and group model building. By using group model building, expert stakeholders were brought together from industry, government and environmental non-governmental organizations. The participants built a qualitative model of the system dynamics of the implementation of industrial CCS in the North Sea Port industrial cluster jointly and on the spot. Enablers and barriers, such as costs, government's decisiveness and public support, are strongly interrelated. Public support plays a key role in multiple feedback loops in the system of industrial CCS implementation. The interdependence of societal and techno-economical elements needs to be acknowledged and responded to. There is need for transparent public engagement to build public support for CCS, and decisiveness and commitment from industry and government to transform that public support into successful and responsible CCS implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cause-related marketing (CRM) has experienced remarkable growth over the past few decades, especially in the hospitality industry. However, concerns have arisen regarding performative CRM allyship, where companies engage in visible public support for a cause without costly actions. Little research has investigated how average consumers respond to such performative allyship. Additionally, while celebrity endorsement has been extensively studied in the context of product marketing, its influence on socially oriented communications remains understudied. Across two pilot studies and three scenario-based experiments, this research defines and differentiates true and performative CRM allyship. Study 1 shows that consumers fail to identify the inauthenticity embedded in performative CRM and hold similarly positive perceptions of true and performative CRM initiatives. Study 2 and Study 3 explore the impact of celebrity endorsements in CRM initiatives and the underlying mechanisms. Two boundary conditions, endorser type (traditional celebrity vs. social media influencer) and endorser-cause fit (expertise vs. experience), are examined to show when performative CRM is justifiable or unacceptable. • Average consumers cannot identify the inauthenticity embedded in performative CRM and hold equal positive perceptions of true and performative CRM initiatives. • A traditional celebrity (vs. social media influencer) endorser will lead to a less authentic perception of the performative (vs. true) CRM initiative. • An endorser with high expertise (vs. experience) about the cause will lead to a more negative parasocial relationship with the endorser and a less authentic perception of the performative (vs. true) CRM initiative. • Perceived authenticity will have a positive impact on (a) brand attitude, (b) purchase intention, and (c) willingness to share. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented restrictions to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (e.g. travel restrictions and lockdowns). One path to loosening restrictions is to do so selectively only for vaccinated individuals (e.g. by implementing vaccine passports domestically or as a prerequisite for international travel). Setting different rules based on people's vaccination status is however a contentious issue among health policy experts, government officials, and the public. Our analysis focuses on the levels and correlates of public support for the lifting of restrictions for the vaccinated in April 2021, i.e. at a time when restrictions were in place and a selective lifting of these restrictions just for the vaccinated was debated in Europe. We use representative quota samples of the populations of France (N = 1,752), Germany (N = 1,759), and Sweden (N = 1,754). We find that a slight plurality support lifting restrictions for the vaccinated in France and Germany but not in Sweden. Vaccine hesitancy emerges as strong predictor of opposition to such a policy. Additionally, individuals who are already vaccinated (in France and Germany) and who are higher in risk-seeking express more support for the lifting of restrictions for the vaccinated. We discuss implications for the debate on vaccine passports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers are being continuously encouraged to adopt entrepreneurial practices with the hope that they will increase their competitiveness. One such practice involves defining clear goals for farm development, which is meant to improve farms' capacity to respond to multi-faceted changes in their environment. However, the question remains whether the assumed plans will actually be achieved and whether they should be seen as a prerequisite for improving farm performance. In this paper, we analyse these issues using unique micro data from the dairy sector in Poland. Our focus is on one specific objective – production expansion – which is often included in farmers' future plans. We investigate whether declaring production expansion as a goal for the future has any impact on actual output growth. Our findings suggest a very weak relationship between the two, which is contradictory to strong arguments showing how setting clear goals may lead to improved farm performance. We discuss several potential reasons for this result, namely the specific nature of our data, complex regulatory framework, the fact that new profit opportunities in dairy sector might stem not only from increasing the scale of output, or the fact that business planning may be perceived by farmers just as a technical requirement to receive public support. • There is scarce evidence that planning production expansion supports farm growth in reality. • Using data from the dairy sector in Poland, we show that the two are weakly related. • Simplicity and transparency of the regulatory environment can strengthen the relationship. • Farmers' preference to remain with the traditional way of farming may have the opposite effect. • Relying on private actions to achieve policy objectives may not bring the expected outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Public support for control measures differed in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia • There is strong public support for vaccination requirements for travelers in Asia • Our study highlights the impact of sociopolitical influences on public perception • Public attitudes toward such control measures should be continually monitored Several countries have implemented control measures to limit SARS-CoV-2 spread, including digital contact tracing, digital monitoring of quarantined individuals, and testing of travelers. These raise ethical issues around privacy, personal freedoms, and equity. However, little is known regarding public acceptability of these measures. In December 2020, we conducted a survey among 3635 respondents in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia to understand public perceptions on the acceptability of COVID-19 control measures. Hong Kong respondents were much less supportive of digital contact tracing and monitoring devices than those in Malaysia and Singapore. Around three-quarters of Hong Kong respondents perceived digital contact tracing as an unreasonable restriction of individual freedom; <20% trusted that there were adequate local provisions preventing these data being used for other purposes. This was the opposite in Singapore, where nearly 3/4 of respondents agreed that there were adequate data protection rules locally. In contrast, only a minority of Hong Kong respondents viewed mandatory testing and vaccination for travelers as unreasonable infringements of privacy or freedom. Less than 2/3 of respondents in all territories were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, with a quarter of respondents undecided. However, support for differential travel restrictions for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals was high in all settings. Our findings highlight the importance of sociopolitical context in public perception of public health measures and emphasize the need to continually monitor public attitudes toward such measures to inform implementation and communication strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: U.S. residents had varying experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and social safety net policy in 2020. Past research has suggested that partisanship, ideology, racial attitudes, and personal experience may each influence policy attitudes. In this study, we explore whether variation in support for social safety net policy in 2020 is predicted by negative experiences of the pandemic when controlling for racial attitudes, partisanship, and ideology.Methods: Support for 12 social safety net policies in 2020 was estimated using data from a nationally representative panel survey of U.S. adults conducted in 2020 (n=1,222). Logistic regression was used to examine differences in the predicted probability of supporting a majority of social safety net policies related to health, housing, and employment by partisanship, ideology, racial attitudes, and negative experiences of the pandemic. Analyses were conducted in 2021.Results: Higher levels of symbolic racism was a consistently strong predictor of lower social safety net policy support across health, housing, and employment policies; as was identifying as either Conservative or Republican. Negative experiences of the pandemic were generally unpredictive of support for the social safety net policy.Conclusions: Despite the pandemic's consequences as well as the potential for social safety net policy to address these consequences, negative experiences of the pandemic failed to predict policy support, even as racial attitudes, partisanship, and ideology strongly predicted these preferences in 2020. Building public support for social safety net policy requires communication strategies that identify the shared benefits of these policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In the energy sector prevail fossil fuel incumbents that might inhibit renewable energy entrants. • Our paper provides a game-theoretic stylization of competition between those two types of firms, while incumbents set prices the entrants respond with quantity adjustments. • Solutions are obtained through a Non-linear Model Predictive Control algorithm. • In contrast to previous studies, in this proposed model, both firms are strategically interacting. • Results highlight the importance of the initial cash-flow levels and fiscal subsidies for fringe firms' performances. Governments attempt to provide the energy sector with incentives to replace old technologies with new renewable energy ones as the most effective way to combat climate change. Yet, in the energy sector prevail fossil fuel incumbents that might inhibit renewable energy entrants. Our paper provides a game-theoretic stylization of competition between those two types of firms. Incumbents set prices, and entrants respond with quantity adjustments. In the context of a dynamic limit pricing model, we study the entry dynamics in a market in which the dominant firms (fossil fuel energy suppliers) face the entry of a group of competitive fringe firms (renewable energy suppliers) when the dominant firms have easier access to financial markets but, the fringe firms fund their expansion with internal finance. We also investigate the effect of the public support for renewable energy firms through subsidies. Our model is built on Judd and Peterson (1986, JET), but our solutions are obtained through a non-linear model predictive control (NMPC) algorithm. By this technique, we can predict the outcome of the competition between incumbents and entrants and the impact of financial and fiscal policies considering moving-horizon strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies if, how, and why different revenue uses affect public attitudes to environmental taxation. More specifically, using a large-scale (N = 4292) randomized survey experiment with a 2 × 3 factorial design, the article analyses how attitudes towards a proposed increase in the current air passenger tax in Sweden are altered when combining a tax increase with three different suggestions for revenue use. The increasingly popular fee-and-dividend solution, where revenues are distributed back to the public, thus decreasing negative distributive tax effects, is compared with two additional revenue uses: unspecified government spending on welfare services, and re-investment of revenues into aviation biofuels. Our results show that, although some of the commonly used independent variables such as climate concern, personal norms and political-ideological orientation are significant in determining policy attitudes, varying both tax level and revenue use also tangibly affects how a policy proposal is received. Interestingly, however, the fee-and-dividend approach does not yield the most positive policy attitudes. Rather, directing the revenues to fund an increased use of biofuels for aviation is the alternative that most clearly drives positive attitudes to this policy, and is also the alternative that is perceived as the most effective and fair in both the high tax and the low tax alternatives. • Analyses of community attitudes to an increase in the Swedish air passenger tax. • Three types of revenue use are considered: Fee-and-dividend, Welfare, and Biofuels. • The fee-and-dividend approach does not yield the most positive policy attitudes. • Earmarking the revenue for biofuels leads to higher perceived fairness, effectiveness, and public support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest creation and restoration are embedded in global policy. Both result in landscape changes that have far-reaching socioeconomic consequences. However, there is limited evidence on public preferences for the biodiversity these forests contain. Here we used a choice experiment to explore the British public's willingness to pay (WTP) for different forest biodiversity attributes. We began with a multiple-step deliberative participatory process. This revealed that participants conceptualised forest biodiversity through visual, aural and olfactory senses. We subsequently developed and pre-tested sensory attributes based on colours, smells and sounds. Depending on the size of the proposed change, participants (N = 1711) were willing-to-pay for a greater variety of sensory attributes and for an indicator of improved ecological functioning (deadwood for decomposition). WTP for sensory attributes was influenced by participants' having related sensory impairments or visiting forests frequently. Our wider contribution highlights the importance of participatory methods to unearth novel and uncommon attributes that can then be used in stated preference studies. Ensuring that we evaluate stated preferences in a manner that reflects how the public conceives biodiversity is important if we are to improve the alignment between forest creation/restoration and public views, which could thus help bolster public support for the planning and implementation of landscape changes. • Participatory workshops were used to derive choice experiment attributes and levels. • We found significant WTP for increases in the variety of colours, smells, and sounds. • Having a sensory impairment may affect WTP for sensory attributes. • Preferences differed between participants who did and did not visit forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade many publications have appeared on degrowth as a strategy to confront environmental and social problems. We undertake a systematic review of their content, data and methods. This involves the use of computational linguistics to identify main topics investigated. Based on a sample of 561 studies we conclude that: (1) content covers 11 main topics; (2) the large majority (almost 90%) of studies are opinions rather than analysis; (3) few studies use quantitative or qualitative data, and even fewer ones use formal modelling; (4) the first and second type tend to include small samples or focus on non-representative cases; (5) most studies offer ad hoc and subjective policy advice, lacking policy evaluation and integration with insights from the literature on environmental/climate policies; (6) of the few studies on public support, a majority concludes that degrowth strategies and policies are socially-politically infeasible; (7) various studies represent a "reverse causality" confusion, i.e. use the term degrowth not for a deliberate strategy but to denote economic decline (in GDP terms) resulting from exogenous factors or public policies; (8) few studies adopt a system-wide perspective – instead most focus on small, local cases without a clear implication for the economy as a whole. We illustrate each of these findings for concrete studies. • We undertake a systematic review of degrowth studies. • This assesses the quality of content, data and methods. • The sample comprises 561 studies. • Computation linguistics identifies 11 main topics. • We draw eight main conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of individuals' fairness predispositions on public support for the welfare state receives less attention than the effect of economic self-interest on this support. Amid growing income differences even in previously egalitarian Nordic countries, predispositions about what is fair in society are rapidly becoming more politically salient. We examine how fairness predispositions towards the rich and the poor are linked to the support for three dimensions regarding how redistribution ought to be organised: access, conditionality and contribution. We then disaggregate these links for different income brackets and between elites who hold leadership positions and the rest of society (citizens). Using data pertaining to Finnish citizens and elites in 2018 and 2020, respectively, we show that the two fairness predispositions are related in various ways to the support for these three dimensions, with differences across income brackets and tentative differences between elites and citizens. These findings underline the importance of considering fairness predispositions even in welfare states emphasising economic equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized large language models (LLMs) to analyze public sentiment in the United States (US) regarding nuclear power on social media, focusing on X/Twitter, considering climate change challenges and advancements in nuclear power technology. Approximately, 1.26 million nuclear tweets from 2008–2023 were examined to fine-tune LLMs for sentiment classification. We found the crucial role of accurate data labeling for model performance, with potential implications for a 15% improvement, achieved through high-confidence labels. LLMs demonstrated better performance compared to traditional machine learning classifiers, with reduced susceptibility to overfitting and up to 96% classification accuracy. LLMs are used to segment the US public tweets into policy and energy-related categories, revealing that 68% are politically themed. Policy tweets tended to convey negative sentiment, often reflecting opposing political perspectives and focusing on nuclear deals and international relations. Energy-related tweets covered diverse topics with predominantly neutral to positive sentiment, indicating broad support for nuclear power in 48 out of 50 US states. The US public positive sentiments toward nuclear power stemmed from its high power density, reliability regardless of weather conditions, environmental benefits, application versatility, and recent innovations and advancements in both fission and fusion technologies. Negative sentiments primarily focused on waste management, high capital costs, and safety concerns. The neutral campaign highlighted global nuclear facts and advancements, with varying tones leaning towards positivity or negativity. An interesting neutral theme was the advocacy for the combined use of renewable and nuclear energy to attain net-zero goals. • Over one million nuclear energy related tweets are collected from the social media platform X (Twitter). • A method is proposed for auto-labeling data with reduced bias, employing a majority voting strategy. • Development of sentiment classification models by fine-tuning large language models. • Selective data topic extraction and in-depth analysis utilizing generative artificial intelligence (AI). • Analysis of the United States public opinion toward nuclear energy on a "state-by-state" basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2022, representatives adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The overarching goal of the agreement is to halt biodiversity loss and restore natural ecosystems – and a much-cited target is the "30x30" target of protecting and restoring 30% of Earth by 2030. Salt marshes are highly productive coastal ecosystems relevant for both biodiversity and climate change mitigation but have experienced historical major losses and are among the habitats in need of protection and restoration. Currently, there is little knowledge about how salt marshes are valued from a societal perspective, which has important management implications. This is particularly the case in the Nordic region where awareness of these habitats is low. Using survey data from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Germany, this study contributes understanding how citizens value salt marshes by examining support for different management initiatives framed as contributing to the goal of either biodiversity protection or climate change mitigation. Generally, both respondents primed with information about the importance of salt marshes for biodiversity and for climate change mitigation were supportive of the management initiatives despite having little previous knowledge of salt marshes. For one initiative, respondents who were informed of the importance of salt marshes for biodiversity were slightly more likely to support the management initiative than those informed about the importance of salt marshes for climate change mitigation. Our study provides guidance for assessment of trade-offs from a human valuation perspective, thus supporting policy makers when considering arguments for salt marsh management within the context of the 30x30 targets for protected areas. • When salt marshes were framed as important ecosystems, there was public support for management initiatives. • Respondents primed with information on the potential importance of salt marshes for climate change mitigation were not more supportive of management initiatives. • Initiatives with the least direct monetary contribution gained the most public support. • Public support for salt marsh management initiatives differed based on country and, in some cases, age and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Willingness to pay for BECCS in Denmark and factors influencing it are investigated. • Willingness to pay is linked to the view of BECCS as necessary for mitigation. • View of BECCS as a necessity reveals either support or reluctant acceptance. • Preference for renewable energies revealed by respondents unwilling to pay. • Age, views on climate change and sustainability of biomass influence WTP. Most climate change mitigation scenarios rely on negative emissions technologies like bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). However, little is known about public support for BECCS. This paper gauges Danes' willingness to pay (WTP) for biomass with carbon capture and storage and examines factors influencing it. Denmark is a suitable case study given its reliance on biomass and negative emissions to achieve climate targets. Results from a questionnaire-based survey indicate a mean WTP of 3072 DKK (412 EUR) per household per year. This correspondents to a 12% increase in heat and electricity expenses. The need for negative emissions is the main stated reason for WTP. This may be interpreted as reflecting either support for, or reluctant acceptance of, BECCS. Results show that being younger, being concerned about climate change and believing that it is mainly caused by human activity, and believing in the mitigation potential of biomass and that sustainability is a precondition of its use have a significant effect on WTP. Public views on BECCS are complex but must be acknowledged if discussion of the role of BECCS in the decarbonisation agenda is to move forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are central to international conservation frameworks and public support has been recognised as critical to their effective implementation. Accordingly, measures of public attitudes to MPAs are routinely undertaken. Public opinion research frequently indicates high levels of public support for MPAs despite low levels of public understanding of the tools and the protections offered by existing MPA systems. Nonetheless, studies indicating public support enhance the social licence of the actors responsible for designing and managing MPAs. To date, there has been little scrutiny of who conducts public opinion research. Using Australia as a case study, this paper presents the results of a systematic review of primary public opinion research on MPAs in Australia between 2000 and 2022 (n = 68). The review focusses on the upstream phase of research production and identifies the academic, government, and commercial or civil society actors who contribute to primary attitudinal data via authorship, funding, and/or named support. The overwhelming majority of the research reviewed (78%) was contributed to by government actors while academics contributed to 68%. Drawing on science and technology studies (STS) and communication studies literature and theories, we consider our results in the context of the non-neutral production of knowledge and its communication. The substantial contribution of governments to the research which reports overwhelming public support for Australian MPAs and, in turn, provides the social license that legitimises how government actors have applied the management tool in the Australian context, is a finding that invites further exploration. • Systematic literature review of the production of Australian public opinion research reporting attitudes to MPAs. • MPA public opinion research is contributed to predominately by government (78%) and academic institutions (68%). • Seventy six percent (76%) of the research is directly authored and/or funded by government. • Concentrated research production may entrench biases in the assessment of social license for marine management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We conducted unique public visioning workshops on radical low-carbon lifestyles. • We found strong public support for many low-carbon lifestyle strategies and futures. • Narratives of inaction create a public discourse of delay, undermining this support. • Narratives of inaction held emotional resonances that evoked defensive responses. • Countering this public discourse of delay is essential for meaningful climate action. Urgent action to tackle the climate crisis will only be possible with significant public support for radical lifestyle change. Arguments that seek to delay climate action and justify inadequate mitigation efforts, often termed 'discourses of delay', are widespread within political and media debate on climate change. Here we report the results of novel public deliberation and visioning workshops, conducted across the UK in 2020/2021 to explore visions of a 1.5 °C future. We found that despite very strong public support for many low-carbon lifestyle strategies in principle, entrenched discourses of delay are limiting beliefs that a fair, low-carbon future is possible. Consisting of four overarching narratives of climate inaction (Resisting personal responsibility; Rejecting the need for urgency; Believing change is impossible; and Defending the social contract), this public discourse of delay is characterised by three distinct repertoires (each with its own emotional resonance), that act to weaken support for climate action by producing defensive responses to discussions of low-carbon lifestyle change and undermining public sense of agency. We argue that countering these narratives, and the defensive responses they invoke, is essential for achieving meaningful public action on climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rewilding is an increasingly popular approach to ecosystem-level restoration whereby strengthening ecosystem resilience and functionality is achieved through restoring previously extirpated species and/or ecological processes. Although rewilding has been broadly applied in many systems globally, there are limited examples that use sociological information to inform multi-species restoration efforts under this paradigm. We surveyed Montana, USA residents representing five stakeholder groups (local ranchers, statewide ranchers, rural residents, urban residents and members of conservation organizations) to assess public attitudes and behaviors towards a suite of species and ecological processes targeted for multi-species restoration in the Northern Great Plains. We also evaluated levels of public support for conservation incentive programs that are commonly used as a mechanism to increase restoration potential on private lands. We found that there were differences in how stakeholders perceived and behaved towards species subject to or targeted for restoration. Species perceived as potential risks to humans and livestock, or possessing regulatory constraints, yielded more negative attitudes, had increased potential for negative behaviors, and support for incentives for those species was lacking. Conversely, we found that stakeholder attitudes towards conserving migration as an ecological process were generally favorable. Our results illustrate how using public tolerance as a metric of social suitability will reveal barriers to acceptance for individual species restoration as well as insights into potential mechanisms for increasing public support for rewilding. More broadly, our study highlights how achieving rewilding in working lands will require community engagement to increase public support and continued assessments of social processes that may limit multi-species restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We explored the spatio-temporal evolution of urban traffic accidents and established models for urban traffic accident predictions using spatio-termporal deep learning techniques. • The proposed SST-DHL outperforms SVM, ConvLSTM, ST-Transformer, DCRNN, ASTGCN and AdapGL in both numerical indicators and predictive performance. • Demonstrated stable predictive capabilities across diverse, sparse datasets, including multi-time scale, heterogeneous traffic accident data from New York City and London. • Our proposed dynamic hypergraph structure enhances the interpretability of deep learning models and captures the high-order spatial correlations of urban traffic accidents. Traffic accidents have emerged as one of the most public health safety matters, raising concerns from both the public and urban administrators. The ability to accurately predict traffic accident not only supports the governmental decision-making in advance but also enhances public confidence in safety measures. However, the efficacy of traditional spatio-temporal prediction models are compromised by the skewed distributions and sparse labeling of accident data. To this end, we propose a Sparse Spatio-Temporal Dynamic Hypergraph Learning (SST-DHL) framework that captures higher-order dependencies in sparse traffic accidents by combining hypergraph learning and self-supervised learning. The SST-DHL model incorporates a multi-view spatiotemporal convolution block to capture local correlations and semantics of traffic accidents, a cross-regional dynamic hypergraph learning model to identify global spatiotemporal dependencies, and a two-supervised self-learning paradigm to capture both local and global spatiotemporal patterns. Through experimentation on New York City and London accident datasets, we demonstrate that our proposed SST-DHL exhibits significant improvements compared to optimal baseline models at different sparsity levels. Additionally, it offers enhanced interpretability of results by elucidating complex spatio-temporal dependencies among various traffic accident instances. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of the SST-DHL framework in accurately predicting traffic accidents, thereby enhancing public safety and trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• People of Bramfischerville strongly support participation in local development, despite being aware of its transaction costs. • Support is higher for more inclusive and interactive participation, i.e., processes which invite all residents to discuss priorities and needs. • People's support is context-specific. In our study, they are shaped by infrastructural preconditions and people's relationship with the state. • This study builds on a context-sensitive and mixed methods research design, combining a survey experiment with qualitative group interviews. • We contribute to theoretical discussions on participation as well as to the yet scarce experience with survey experiments in the Global South. Public participation in local development is an integral part of democratic agendas across the world. Yet not much research specifically focuses on people's perspectives of participation, especially among underprivileged populations. Gaining a better understanding of people's support for public participation is, however, important as it may inform people's interest in future engagements with the state for local development. This paper contributes to the extensive interdisciplinary literature on public participation in local development by taking a people-centric view. Drawing on an original face-to-face vignette survey experiment (n = 502) and group interviews in Bramfischerville, a low-income residential area in Johannesburg, we examine whether people generally support public participation in local development and explore how different design features of participatory processes inform public support for participation. Overall, our mixed methods study reveals strong support for public participation, with higher support levels for more inclusive and interactive forms, meaning processes, which are open to all residents and where participants are invited to discuss priorities and needs. This, despite people's awareness of the transaction costs of participation, such as time and energy. Moreover, we find that people's support for participation is influenced by their experiences and satisfaction with infrastructure provision. These findings underline the importance of understanding the specificities of the given socio-economic context and people's everyday lived realities. It also draws attention to people's relationship with the state, as the main provider of this infrastructure. Therefore, a context-sensitive interpretation of people's infrastructural preconditions and their relationship with the state are necessary to understand their attitudes towards participation and, more generally, for advancing participatory governance in the given context and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveys suggest that the general public (i.e., adults or parents) supports sexual health education in schools. However, the number of schools providing sex education continues to decline in the United States. The purpose of this study is to conduct a meta-analysis of U.S.-based representative surveys to provide a pooled estimate of public support for sexual health education delivered in schools. A systematic search of three databases (Medline, PsycInfo, and ERIC) was conducted to identify survey measuring adult and parent attitudes toward sexual health education in school between 2000 and 2016. Meta-analyses were conducted in OpenMetaAnalyst via the metaphor package in R using a DerSimonian-Laird random effect models to account for heterogeneity between surveys. A total of 23 citations met study inclusion and exclusion criteria, representing 15 unique probability surveys conducted with the public. Among the included surveys, 14 were nationwide and 11 included parents or an overrepresentation of parents. Across all survey findings, 88.7% (95% confidence interval = 86.2–91.2) of respondents supported sexual health education. Among surveys that only included parents or oversampled for parents, 90.0% (95% confidence interval = 86.5–93.4) supported sexual health education, and among nationally representative surveys, 87.7% (95% confidence interval = 85.1–90.6) of respondents supported sexual health education. These findings demonstrate overwhelming support for sexual health education delivered in schools. Additional research is needed to determine individual differences in support for specific sexual health education topics and skills delivered through classroom-based instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy measures in the field of road safety are not easily implemented for several reasons. Interventions can be undertaken in a multitude of policy areas, but it is often uncertain how effective the measures are. Moreover, policymakers may be reluctant to implement road safety policy measures because of the expected high costs and/or perceived low public support. To understand the arguments used against policy measures for road safety, a survey was conducted in ten countries (China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Greece, France, Nigeria, and Argentina). Respondents were presented with ten possible road safety measures and asked whether they would support or oppose them, what arguments their opinion was based on, and what the consequence of the measure would be on them individually. This paper describes the main findings of the research and then zooms in on three counterarguments: restriction of mobility, discrimination, and unjustifiability of state interventions, as well as on three of the measures considered—compulsory use of ISA systems, mandatory cycle helmets, and screening of older motorists. With this research, previous results on the level of public support have been confirmed, and new insights have been gained. If people feel safe when using a particular transport mode, they are less conscious of the need for additional or stricter measures affecting their transport mode. The perceived restriction of human liberties, fear of discrimination, and resistance to state interventions fuel opposition against measures. Moreover, people from different countries vary in what they consider fair and unfair, which is linked to the national culture and social organization. Even if a measure was perceived to be unfair from a certain perspective (e.g., discrimination), some respondents supported the measure. Our research also illustrates that even people who recognize that a measure would be effective might oppose it because they think it is not justified from at least one perspective, for instance, an excessive restriction of freedom. • Women are more supportive of road safety measures than men. • People who feel safe when using a particular transport mode are less supportive of additional measures affecting that mode. • Perceived restriction of freedom, fear of discrimination, and resistance to state intervention fuel opposition to measures. • "Difficult to implement" is seen as the most relevant counterargument, followed by "Will not reduce injuries." • People from different countries vary in what they consider to be fair and unfair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadband connectivity is now essential to ensure a competitive advantage for any business. The analysis of Scotland's crucial IT infrastructure contribution supported the authors' thesis that the Government plays a decisive role in Open Innovation ecosystems. Indeed, IT infrastructures are a clear case of market failure where remote areas will never be served by adequate connectivity without public support. The main contribution is the demonstration that the benefits of public intervention are sometimes required and beneficial to correct market distortions and generate positive spillovers in terms of collaboration in Open Innovation ecosystems. Another relevant contribution is a comprehensive analysis of the consistency of the evolution of the public policies that supported the IT Infrastructure in Scotland. Therefore, pivotal is the study of this case study that can be easily generalised to many other contexts where the Government addressed market failures and, at the same time, contributed to generating collaborative environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the international literature, small towns are most likely to reorient following structural change if they are rich in natural or built amenity, accessible to large urban areas and have local capacity for change. However, not all places have these characteristics. Focusing on places less blessed with these features, this paper develops a conceptualisation that extends beyond these simplistic empirical regularities/characteristics and enhances understanding of the processes underlying small town change. Drawing on two cases from both the UK and New Zealand, key drivers for small town reorientation are explored, their meaning illustrated in terms of the likelihood of reorientation of the towns' development trajectory and the key policy choices emerging are highlighted. Whilst small town reorientation is inherently unpredictable, positive forces for change are likely to occur within most small towns. Informed by the adaptive cycle model and how this links to observed case realities, the findings suggest the need for an emergent strategic approach that focuses on supporting a local rediscovery/re-imagination of potential, local adaptive processes of emergence and connectivity as it emerges. Consistent with recent research into placeleadership and place-based revival, there is a need for public support to encourage positive local activity and the development of policies that are flexible to the changing place-based opportunities/synergies that emerge. • Small town reorientation is most likely when they are rich in amenity, accessible and strong local capacity. • There is a need to conceptualise beyond these simplistic empirical regularities/characteristics, which this paper does through exploring the processes underlying small town change. • The paper explores the value of using complex adaptive systems to help explain the transitions which small towns experience. • This conception and empirical evidence supports a flexible emergent strategic approach. • Policies need to be more supportive to place-based opportunities/synergies as they emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated longstanding housing precarity. This study measures the public support for policies designed to increase housing stability and gauges whether support levels are associated with views about the role of evictions in COVID-19 transmission and the existence of racial inequities in the housing market.Methods: A cross-sectional survey with a representative sample of U.S. adults in November 2020 assessed support for 4 housing policies. Logistic regression models estimated the adjusted levels of support for each policy, with separate models testing the association with whether or not a respondent recognized the role of evictions in increased COVID-19 transmission or acknowledged racial inequities in the housing market.Results: Most U.S. adults supported policies aimed to increase housing stability during the COVID-19 pandemic, including extending moratoriums on evictions (63%) and foreclosures (67%) and increasing emergency rental assistance (63%). In total, 54% supported increased government spending on housing vouchers. Adults who agreed that averting eviction would slow COVID-19 transmission had higher support for housing stability policies, as did those who agreed that it was easier for White families to find affordable, high-quality housing than Black families.Conclusions: Support for housing stability policies was strong among U.S. adults, particularly among those who agreed that preventing evictions slowed COVID-19 transmission and among those who acknowledged racial inequities in the housing market. Raising public awareness of the connections among unstable housing, infectious disease transmission, and racial inequity could broaden the support for policies to keep people in their homes through the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public support for climate policy is necessary to enact the large-scale changes needed to mitigate climate change. We use the three-pillar model of sustainability as a conceptual framework to examine how individuals evaluate climate policies and how these evaluations predict policy support. We consider individuals' evaluations of 1) environmental impacts (i.e., perceived policy effectiveness), 2) economic impacts, and 3) social impacts of policies. We use multilevel modeling to disentangle variance in policy support attributable to between-person differences (i.e., aggregated policy support) and within-person variations across policies. First, we fit a multilevel factor model to our dataset (N obs = 1056) to identify whether the factor structure of the three-pillar model at both the between-person and within-person levels of analysis. The three-pillar model emerged at the within-person level. In contrast, items instead loaded onto two factors at the between-person level: benefits and harms. Thus, we created within- and between-person constructs matching these factors. Results from multilevel regressions suggest that a) individuals who anticipate more benefits and fewer harms of climate policies (as a set) also tend to report greater aggregated support for climate change policies, and b) anticipating environmental benefits, economic impacts and social impacts to be above average for a certain policy (relative to other policies) predicts greater support for that policy. Our work suggests the relevance of differentiating between who is most likely to support climate policies in general (i.e., between-person differences) as well as policy-specific evaluations associated with support for some policies over others (i.e. within-person variation in support). • Examined predictors of who supports climate policy and which policies are supported. • Policy-level support predicted by anticipated net positive environmental, social, and economic impacts. • Individual-level support predicted by anticipated positive, lower negative impacts. • Anticipated policy impacts predicted policy support more strongly than perceived climate risks. • Results support taking a multilevel approach to examining policy support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the factors that have facilitated Vietnam's recent rapid solar and wind power expansion and draws policy insights for other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). A policy-mix analysis focusing on targets, incentive instruments, enabling regulations, and policy implementation is carried out, informed by semi-structured interviews with 20 Vietnamese experts during the period January–March 2021. A comparative analysis between Vietnam and the other ASEAN countries provides policy insights. Generous feed-in tariffs are found to have been a key driver, with income tax and land lease payment exemptions also being important. The main barriers include a high level of policy uncertainty and an underprepared transmission grid. Vietnam's case indicates that a strong price signal and a supportive investment environment can pave the way for rapid solar and wind power uptake. Another key lesson is that early preparation of transmission systems for solar and wind electricity is needed to maximize the potential for expanding the use of these technologies. • Vietnam has led the uptake of solar and wind power capacity in ASEAN sinces 2019. • Government commitment and public support are found to be key drivers. • Feed-in tariffs can strongly incentivize industry take-off. • Policy certainty and preparation of transmission systems are important. • Now is the time for ASEAN to better prepare for renewable energy uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We generate public interest metrics for protected areas (PAs) using Wikipedia data. • PAs threatened by development with low public interest are politically vulnerable. • There are many 'politically vulnerable' PAs in Brazil. • Many protected areas under high development pressure have a low public interest. • Public information campaigns should be a priority in highly threatened Pas. Protected areas (PAs) are often seen as opportunity costs and are therefore vulnerable to political decisions that open them up to public or private development initiatives. We reasoned that, ceteris paribus, PAs with high levels of public support should be more resilient to such decisions because; i) politicians in democratic societies are reluctant to make unpopular/controversial decisions that go against public opinion, and; ii) the proposed development of popular PAs is more likely to be met by vigorous resistance ('push-back') from NGOs and other societal actors. Nevertheless, public interest and, by extension, support for protected areas has rarely been considered in PA risk assessments. Here, we propose an innovative approach to assessing the political vulnerability of PAs that combines indices of developmental pressures (from the DOPA database) with an innovative culturomic-derived metric of public interest based on Wikipedia page views. Using automated methods, we quantify the political vulnerability status of 523 Brazilian PAs. Our analysis reveals a large number of PAs that may be politically vulnerable, being characterized by a combination of high developmental pressure and low/very low levels of public interest. For such PAs, we recommend managers take measures to increase public interest to ensure a healthy base of public support in the future. We conclude that digital metrics of public interest are simply and inexpensively generated, and could be easily incorporated into the existing assessment systems for protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the ongoing enormous infrastructural developments and car ownership culture in Qatar, it could be one of those countries to introduce Autonomous Vehicles (AV) technology at the early stages. Therefore, this study surveyed a number of residents at the State of Qatar to improve our understandings of their perceptions regarding overall safety of AV (General_safety), safety due to the fact that AV could eliminate human errors (Human_errors), safety due to the interactions between Human-Driven Vehicles (HDV) and AV (HDV-AV_interactions), performance in harsh environmental conditions, security, comfort level, travel time, congestion and operational costs. In addition, the study uncovered the relationships of public perceptions towards AV and some other contextual factors with the willingness to adopt it in the future. To study these relations, we relied on a Structural Equation Modeling. Overall, the results showed that respondents had higher and positive perceptions regarding "General_safety" and "Human_errors", however, they were more concerned about "HDV-AV_interactions" and its security. In addition, individuals' preference to shift to AV in the future was positively correlated with their perception level of "General_safety", "Human_errors", Comfort and Travel_time. Regarding ethnicity of the respondents, non-Arabs reported higher concerns regarding AV security, compared to Arabs. Furthermore, interestingly the results revealed that individuals having higher knowledge about AV technology had more concerns on "General_safety" and "HDV-AV_interactions", while they had positive perceptions that AV could eliminate human errors. The findings from this study are anticipated to allow AV manufacturers and other relevant authorities to enhance public confidence towards AV technology by targeting different sub-groups through particular safety or security awareness campaigns. • Demographic characteristics were found to affect public perceptions about AV. • Higher concerns were reported for AV safety in mixed traffic conditions and its security. • Willingness to use AV was positively correlated with perception level of AV's safety. • Perceived comfort level significantly affected individuals' preference to shift to AV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the efficacy of Pigouvian taxes, governments often find them surprisingly controversial to implement. Evidence suggests the reason may be their complexity, which stems from the delay of externality. This paper studies whether communication among peers can promote public support for Pigouvian taxation. Using a market experiment with time-delayed negative externalities, we find that support for Pigouvian taxation increases when tax supporters can explain their position to other voters. We show that the peer effects cannot be explained by simple imitation or compliance, but are more likely to be driven by social learning. Our findings provide converging evidence for the role of complexity in the lack of support for Pigouvian taxes. These results point to the importance of giving voice and visibility to members of the general public who support efficient but complex tax policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]