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Problem definition: Most subsidy welfare programs operate in a bilevel hierarchical structure, wherein a funding agency allocates funds to multiple service organizations. These service organizations invest in activities within their areas to generate societal impact for beneficiaries by enhancing the quantity and quality of services at local providers. The funds allocation decisions in such programs are complicated by the funding agency's equity consideration, intricate relationships among contextual factors in societal impact generation, and information asymmetry between different entities about availability of additional funds for an agency. Methodology/results: We propose a model to analyze how the funding agency should allocate funds to generate the most societal impact equitably across areas. We show that the funding agency should direct more funds toward an area with a relatively balanced mix of subsidy-accepting and nonaccepting providers, or with fewer nonaccepting providers, and outreach activity is more likely to yield a higher investment return. Further, comparing the inequity levels and total societal impact under the proposed equity-ensuring method with those under other methods, we find that an efficiency-focused method enhances total societal impact, but can result in greater inequity, especially when there is a large across-area disparity in the size of beneficiaries. A simple formula-based method could achieve greater total societal impact, while not severely sacrificing equity in certain situations. Conversely, the equity-ensuring method always eliminates inequity by not severely sacrificing the total societal impact under a wide range of parameter values. Managerial implications: Given the growing impetus to consider equity within their operations, our equity-ensuring method helps the funding agencies adjust their allocation strategies to generate the greatest equitable impact. Finally, using a case study based on Massachusetts' child care subsidy program, we illustrate that the proposed method achieves equity while enhancing the overall societal impact by approximately 3% versus the current formula-based method. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0474. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the initial unitary structure to the current diversified structure, the laboratory has been inseparable from scientific research and national science and technology strategy, and has shown scale effect. From the perspective of organized scientific research, we should focus on the role of optimizing laboratories in scientific and technological innovation. This paper analyzes the endogenous force of scientific activities carried by laboratories on scientific and technological innovation, deeply studies the new situations and problems faced by laboratories in the new era, reveals new characteristics and laws, discusses the effective coupling model between operation of laboratories and funds allocation, refines and summarizes the regular understanding of scientific and technological innovation practice in China universities, and puts forward the optimization path of laboratory funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined school finance management structure and effective delivery of 21st century secondary education in Cross River State. The aims were to find out the relationship between availability of school finance management structure and the delivery of 21st century education in secondary schools, ascertain whether the structures for the mobilization of school funds, allocation of school funds, school finance accountability exist in secondary schools, and determine the extent of delivery of 21st century education in secondary schools in Cross River State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. 4 research questions and 1 hypothesis were formulated for the study. The population of the study comprised all the 251 Principals from the 251 public secondary schools in the three Educational Zones in Cross River State. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (simple percentages, mean and standard deviation) were used to answer the research questions, while Pearson Product Moment correlation Statistics (r) was used to analyze the data for the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Result obtained showed that there is a significant relationship between availability of school finance management structure and effective delivery of 21st century secondary education in Cross River State. It was also found that there are adequate sources of funds available to secondary schools in the State; there are no formal structures for funds allocation and accountability in the schools and the level of delivery of 21st century education in secondary schools is low. Based on this result, it was recommended that there should be formal structures for funds allocation and finance accountability to ensure effective delivery of skilledbased education in the State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance measurement of Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) is of increasing importance for aid agencies, policy-makers and donors. A widely used benchmark for measuring the efficiency of NPOs is the overhead cost ratio, consisting of the total money spent on administration and fundraising relative to the budget. Donors generally favor a lower overhead cost ratio as it ensures that more money directly reaches beneficiaries. Unlike fundraising expenses, administrative costs do not contribute to advertising the actions of an NPO even though they account for a significant proportion of overhead cost. Reducing administrative expenses is a logical consequence from a financial viewpoint, but might negatively affect NPOs through the resulting administrative capacities. This phenomenon is known as “Nonprofit Starvation Cycle”. This work provides an analytical framework for analyzing NPO decision making concerning administrative costs. The paper provides answers to important research questions on the optimal level of administrative spending, the influencing factors and the effects of available information on NPOs. The research shows that focusing on financial performance measurements can result in reduced utility created for NPOs. Less transparency often leads to increased utility for NPOs, but more transparency can increase NPOs’ utility if the information available exceeds a certain threshold. Fluctuating donations are challenging for NPOs’ planning and may impact administrative capacities negatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the European Commission adopted a new strategy to halt the loss of biodiversity. Member states are expected to favor a more effective collection and redistribution of European Union (EU) funds under the current Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020. Because of the large spatial variation in the distribution of biodiversity and conservation needs at the continental scale, EU instruments should ensure that countries with higher biodiversity values get more funds and resources for the conservation than other countries. Using linear regressions, we assessed the association between conservation investments and biodiversity values across member states, accounting for a variety of conservation investment indicators, taxonomic groups (including groups of plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates), and indicators of biodiversity value. In general, we found clear overall associations between conservation investments and biodiversity variables. However, some countries received more or less investment than would be expected based on biodiversity values in those countries. We also found that the extensive use of birds as unique indicators of conservation effectiveness may lead to biased decisions. Our results can inform future decisions regarding funding allocation and thus improve distribution of EU conservation funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed whether administrative preparedness processes that were intended to expedite the acquisition of goods and services during a public health emergency affect estimated procurement and contracting cycle times. We obtained data from 2014-2015 applications to the Hospital Preparedness Program and Public Health Emergency Preparedness (HPP-PHEP) cooperative agreements. We compared the estimated procurement and contracting cycle times of 61 HPP-PHEP awardees that did and did not have certain administrative processes in place. Certain processes, such as statutes allowing for procuring and contracting on the open market, had an effect on reducing the estimated cycle times for obtaining goods and services. Other processes, such as cooperative purchasing agreements, also had an effect on estimated procurement time. For example, awardees with statutes that permitted them to obtain goods and services in the open market had an average procurement cycle time of 6 days; those without such statutes had a cycle time of 17 days (P = .04). PHEP awardees should consider adopting these or similar processes in an effort to reduce cycle times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper highlights the importance of collection development in a University Library. The study is based on the acquisition data of Karnataka University Library from 2005-2009. An attempt has been made to know the budget allocation to various subjects and the average price of a book in different disciplines. The results are helpful in planning the budgetary allocation for acquisition of books. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel framework of funds allocation for flash flood reduction is proposed. • The Multiple vulnerability and FAOM are coupled to the framework. • The rationality and superiority of the framework is evaluated in Hainan Island, China. • Further application of the framework in progressive recognition is designed. Support funds from national or subnational public spending provide essential assistance for flash floods reduction all around the world. However, how to allocate support funds to different regions with various degrees of disaster is a challenge for decision makers. In this paper, we develop a universal and novel multi-objective framework to solve the problem at multi-space scales. The framework is coupled with the concept of multiple vulnerability and the Fund Allocation Optimization Model (FAOM) developed, taking fully into account the impact of vulnerability on funds allocation. Elite Genetic Algorithm, Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution and Geographical Detector are applied to solve the FAOM. Based on the case study in Hainan Island, China and the model is compared with the other two fund allocation schemes. Results show that FAOM is able to find a better fund allocation program. As such, it offers a novel approach to solve the problem of funds allocation, considering environmental, social and economic factors. In addition, the further application of the model in progressive recognition and phased support is designed for long-term funding decisions in a particular region, considering the sustainable development of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In ecological studies it is widely accepted that the biogeographical subdivision of continents and regions simplifies and integrates the complexity of natural ecosystems and species range by separating variation or distinctions into biogeographical subdivisions that could be used as appropriate units for the conservation of biodiversity. In this paper we support the opinion that the biogeographical approach could be a unifying method for the analysis of the extinction risk of threatened species according to the IUCN Categories and Criteria at the regional level. We examined recent papers regarding the conservation assessment of species and discussed the advantages of incorporating convergence of conservation action plans between bordering countries, and financial issues, into the IUCN protocol. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Long-term care (LTC) is organized in a fragmented manner. Payer agencies (PA) receive LTC funds from the agency collecting funds, and commission services. Yet, distributional equity (DE) across PAs, a precondition to geographical equity of access to LTC, has received limited attention. We conceptualize that LTC systems promote DE when they are designed to set eligibility criteria nationally (vs. locally); and to distribute funds among PAs based on needs-formula (vs. past-budgets or government decisions)., Objectives: This cross-country study highlights to what extent different LTC systems are designed to promote DE across PAs, and the parameters used in allocation formulae., Methods: Qualitative data were collected through a questionnaire filled by experts from 17 OECD countries., Results: 11 out of 25 LTC systems analyzed, fully meet DE as we defined. 5 systems which give high autonomy to PAs have designs with low levels of DE; while nine systems partially promote DE. Allocation formulae vary in their complexity as some systems use simple demographic parameters while others apply socio-economic status, disability, and LTC cost variations., Discussion and Conclusions: A minority of LTC systems fully meet DE, which is only one of the criteria in allocation of LTC resources. Some systems prefer local priority-setting and governance over DE. Countries that value DE should harmonize the eligibility criteria at the national level and allocate funds according to needs across regions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors certify that they have conflict of interests, they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)