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How does emigration affect tax preferences in migrant-sending countries? Experiencing public services in a high tax-capacity destination may reduce support for tax increases by throwing fiscal failure at home into stark relief (the socialization hypothesis). Alternatively, migrants' exclusion from certain public services may increase desire to fund these services in migrant origin countries (the exclusion hypothesis). We test these competing hypotheses with an online survey experiment in Mexico and explore variation in US healthcare access on fiscal policy preferences of migrant households. Migrant households, especially those with returned migrant members, are more supportive of taxation when tax revenue is earmarked for healthcare, a service to which many Mexican immigrants in the US lack access. It is migrants' exclusion from, rather than their socialization into, the fiscal contract in destination countries that influences fiscal policy preferences in their countries of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the interaction between social capital, education, and subjective well-being in Ecuador, highlighting its impact on economic development. The study aims to understand the situation of social capital and subjective well-being and how the identified factors explain the impact on subjective well-being in the Ecuadorian population, using a descriptive and analytical approach with information from the World Value Survey database of waves 6 and 7. The main results show a significant relationship between social capital and subjective well-being, with positive influences such as justice and union membership, and negative effects of public administration and media. In conclusion, the importance of strengthening social capital and improving public services and communication to promote the well-being of the Ecuadorian population is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the high prevalence of epilepsy in Rwanda, specifically in rural areas. The authors conducted two separate studies in different regions of Rwanda and found high rates of epilepsy in both areas. They acknowledge the limitations of small-scale studies and the potential influence of specific factors in geographically isolated areas. The authors emphasize the need for increased access to healthcare in rural areas and the importance of addressing the stigma and discrimination associated with epilepsy. They also highlight the ongoing research to investigate the risk factors and causes of epilepsy in Rwanda. [Extracted from the article]

Birds, cats, dogs, and horses are some of the creatures that have collaborated with humans in delivering public services. This assertion is known but insufficiently examined. To bring animals into the public affairs discourse, this article defines public service and employs a narrative approach to examine animals working with people in service delivery. Animals are shown to satisfy essential public needs—from helping to win wars to policing streets to providing support for people as diverse as nursing home residents and occupants of the White House. Animals also make significant contributions to public service by being inspirational, demonstrating how mutual effort can accomplish goals, advancing the concept of empathy, bringing out the importance of character ideals, spurring innovation, and generally adding value to the public administration ecosystem. These findings support future research to understand the nature of human-animal cooperation in achieving societal objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special education is an essential part of a high-quality education system. While the highquality development of special education requires a team of qualified teachers. However, there are some problems in the construction of qualified teachers for special education. For instance, the insufficient and unbalanced teachers' allocation is prominent, the professional level of teachers cannot meet the new and high demands of diversified special education services, and the promotion channel for full-time teachers are not smooth. To solve these problems, here are some suggestion: the country should develop standards for the allocation of special education teachers which can guarantee that all regions have sufficient special education teachers; strengthen the training for special education teachers and enhance their practical capabilities in special and inclusive education; expand the career development channel for teachers; improve the salary and benefits of teachers, as well as their professional and social status, so as to enhance their sense of professional honor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armed conflicts exacerbate public health challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inequality across groups and poverty in rural areas can be an important factor in triggering local wars. This study investigates whether equitable distribution of public services by governments across urban and rural geographical regions reduces the risk of local wars initiated by armed groups in Sub-Saharan African countries. Does an equitable distribution of public services such as healthcare and clean water public services across regions decrease the risk of armed conflicts? Uneven distribution of public services can increase the risk of conflict by contributing to group grievances, rural poverty, and rent-seeking competition over government resources. Analyses of 39 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1947 to 2021 show that a one-standard deviation increase in equal access to public services by urban–rural location lowers the risk of armed conflict, a substantial 37 to 53 percent with consideration of a battery of control variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In multi-ethnic rural settlements, a diversity of social relationships gives rise to various public spaces. The integration of cultures, propelled by urbanization, poses challenges to the unique characteristics of these rural public spaces. This process leads to issues such as the loss of cultural diversity, increased homogeneity of spaces, uneven distribution of public services, and low efficiency in space utilization, which seriously interfere with the healthy and sustainable development of rural social systems in multi-ethnic rural areas. This study, focusing on the rural public spaces in Tongren's multi-ethnic settlements, employs a social network analysis approach to investigate the implications of these spaces for the stability of rural community life and the preservation of cultural identities. A model for analyzing social networks in rural public spaces was developed, emphasizing overlapping patterns of user groups, activities, and spatial entities. Analysis of the social networks was conducted in three domains: emotional support, material exchange, and information dissemination. A semantic model was also constructed to understand the usage and structural networks within these public spaces. Comparative analyses between the usage and structural networks of rural public spaces were conducted to develop a comprehensive structural analysis system for these areas. Application of this system in analyzing the rural public spaces of Tongren revealed distinct findings. The connectivity of the structural network in Dongganmu Village's public spaces was found to be lower than that of the usage network, indicating that social factors heavily influence villagers' interactions. Furthermore, the number of small groups within the usage network was fewer than in the structural network, reflecting a lack of hierarchy in public space organization. Villagers' preferences for public spaces were primarily influenced by cultural beliefs rather than spatial accessibility. The insights garnered from this study not only contribute to the understanding of social network structures in rural public spaces within multi-ethnic settlements but also provide a foundation for informed decision-making regarding the sustainable development of these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do citizens prefer to utilize personal connections (e.g. guanxi) with government officials to access public services? Conventional wisdom suggests that improvements in formal institutions can reduce the popularity of informal behaviors; however, limited research has explored the relevant roles of e-government and anticorruption endeavors. Thus, based on survey data from 30 Chinese municipalities and multilevel regression designs, this study shows that citizens in cities with higher e-government development levels or who perceive governments' anticorruption efforts to be effective are less likely to perform guanxi practices. The negative effect of e-government is also more salient among individuals with political connections. Therefore, this study contributes to the ongoing discussion on the relationship between formal institutions and guanxi practices by revealing the specific ways in which e-government development and anticorruption efforts lessen individuals' reliance on guanxi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the corporatisation of local public services has gained substantive momentum over the past decades. However, there is a research gap concerning the functioning of governance bodies, particularly boards, in municipally owned corporations as hybrid organisations. In this study, analysing German municipally owned corporations, we investigate the relationship between supervisory board efficacy, as attributed by chief executive officers, and perceived organisational performance. We do not find a direct relationship; instead, we find evidence for a 'catalyser' relationship: board efficacy alleviates managerial role dilemmas, thus removing obstacles to organisational performance. The results imply that particular attention needs to be paid to the enhancement of competencies of board members and their collaboration. Limitations are outlined. Points for practitioners: • 'Good governance' of hybrid organisations requires effective boards, which – albeit indirectly – ultimately result in better corporate performance. • Board efficacy alleviates managerial role dilemmas, thus removing obstacles to performance. • The results imply that particular attention needs to be paid to the enhancement of competencies of board members and their collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local governments increasingly create and use corporate forms of organization to provide public services. While there is growing evidence on the factors influencing such corporatization, less is known about what leads some local governments to bring corporatized services back in-house. This paper investigates financial, socioeconomic, political and organizational drivers of reverse corporatization among 62 Arms-Length Management Organizations (ALMOs), wholly owned nonprofit organizations created by local governments in England to provide social housing services. Survival analysis for the period 2003–2019 suggests that reverse corporatization is more likely to occur in left-wing local governments and in those with more financial reserves, but is less likely if ALMOs have operated for a longer time and have a large board of directors. Points for practitioners: Understanding of the drivers of reverse corporatization can help local politicians and public managers improve their decisions about the appropriate mode of delivery for local public services. This paper highlights that good fiscal health may be essential for efforts to bring corporatized service back in-house, but that well-established municipal corporations may be better left to continue operating. It is also important for policymakers to recognize the role that political ideology (and socioeconomic circumstances) can play in shaping a commitment to reversing corporatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nonprofit and for‐profit providers play an increasing role in public service delivery, but we know little about what shapes public service delivery preferences. Responding to calls to put the "public" back in public values theory, we examine the influence of public values on sector service delivery preferences for government, nonprofit, or for‐profit delivery across six service areas ranging from simple services such as trash collection to complex services such as child welfare. We find equity predicts a preference for government service delivery across areas, while efficiency corresponds to a preference for for‐profit service delivery. Nonprofit sector preferences varied across service areas; equity corresponds to simple services such as street maintenance, whereas effectiveness corresponds to complex human services such as elder care. Public administrators should be cognizant of the public value trade‐offs that underlie sector preferences for public services to design and implement service arrangements in line with the preferences of the public they serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public Value (PV) is a notion and an approach to the governance and management of public services that has gained traction over the past three decades. However, there seems to be a major gap in PV theory: the influence that institutionalized religions have on public life in countries around the world and hence on the ways in which PV notions become acceptable across different countries. This article seeks to address this gap by developing an analytical framework to understand the influence of religions on PV. The nature of the religious regime in a given country—whether liberal or non-liberal—is a key mediating factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studied the factors accounting for Chinese citizens' behavioral adoption of mobile government services via social media platforms. Social media innovations have empowered governments to better interact and stay in touch with citizens, and thus understanding citizens' adoption of government services via social media will enable policymakers to leverage social media to better meet the service requirements of citizens. Drawing upon the Chinese mobile-government context, this research framework was made on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) while the analysis of data was completed with Smart PLS by the use of the SEM procedure. The analysis has surprisingly discovered that perceived usefulness (PU) does not predict the adoption of mobile government services through social media. However, perceived information quality was significant in determining both the PU and adoption behavior. It was also shown that factors such as perceived security, perceived mobility, trendiness, and interactivity were all significant determinants of both the perceived usefulness and adoption intention respectively. The research and managerial consequences of the study outcomes on m-government development and diffusion are thoroughly considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IMPACT: The authors put forward a relational public service agenda which involves investing in infrastructure, focusing on appropriate scaling of change, balancing specialism and generalism in public service roles and functions, and pursuing improvement through engaged research endeavours. This shift requires new thinking, tools and research in terms of measurement, learning and evaluation practice in public service. The authors argue this constitutes a basis for academic public administration to prospectively engage in scholarship which addresses the complex challenges confronting our societies in coming years. Governments face increasing calls to radically reform public services around human relationships. The authors describe how New Public Management's (NPM) legacy of transactionalism has denatured waves of public service reforms, making them unfit for contemporary governance. Contrasting academic and practitioner perspectives on public service reform, the authors describe a burgeoning movement towards relational ways of conceptualizing and enacting the management and delivery of public services. Taking stock of this, the authors put forward a broad research agenda into relational public services. Academics must play a much more active role in this movement than they did during the NPM era—not merely describing and classifying change, but actively and directly shaping a future-focused prospective public service reform agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring digital governance is essential for grasping how technology can be employed to enhance public services, boost efficiency, and foster transparency and engagement. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of digital governance research in order to explore its development, emerging research trends, network of leading researchers, countries and institutions that contribute greatly to this field. A bibliometric study was conducted on digital governance works using the following terms: "digital governance," "E-governance," "digital government," and "E-government" as the keywords. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were two tools used for the bibliometric analysis. Results showed that the United States played a dominate role in digital governance studies, followed by China, the United Kingdom, India, and Spain. Brunel University, University at Albany, and University of Johannesburg were the top three research institutes for digital governance. Reddick C.G., Weerakkody V., Dwivedi, Y. K., Mensah, I. K., and Jaeger, P.T. served as the representative researchers in this field. In addition, topics including usability and reliability of digital governance system, quality assurance under the framework of digital governance, the quality of digital service, impact of digital governance on public perception, e [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We delve into whether the equalization of basic public services can mitigate regional disparities in China's economic resilience. Our analysis reveals that COVID-19 has diminished economic resilience and exacerbated regional differences. Notably, these regional disparities constitute the primary cause of spatial variations in economic resilience. Despite the initially low level of basic public services in Chinese cities, there is a discernible upward trend, indicating a gradual narrowing of regional disparities. Furthermore, we uncover a substantial positive correlation between the equalization of public services and variations in regional economic resilience, thereby offering fresh empirical evidence that the equalization of public services can help bridge the gap in regional economic resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis qualitative (QL) case study aimed to map and evaluate the localized migrant interventions in Ilocos Norte, a province in northwestern Philippines with a large population of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Using an asset-based approach, this study sought to emphasize the strengths of local government agencies and their problem-solving capacities. Interview and focus group discussion data were collected from 37 participants, specifically from returned OFWs, provincial and local governments’ employees, and volunteers from an OFW family group. Results show that localized migrant interventions include those that were delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, namely, repatriation and quarantine and testing services. There were social protection services provided pre-pandemic and during the pandemic, including socioeconomic, social, health, and legal assistance, and capacity-building programs. Coordination among government agencies also occurred. Participants evaluated pandemic interventions as inconsistent and lacking, and these interventions were marred by poor communication and coordination. Results also show the centrality of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, which offers many programs but whose service provision received mixed assessment. The other government agencies also had mixed evaluations, marked by limitations in mandate and resources. Lastly, perceptions of the effectiveness of information dissemination by government agencies were varied. Results show that localized interventions are important in providing social protection to distressed OFWs. Policies to promote sustainable reintegration, prepare for future mass repatriation, and improve decentralization are recommended. Findings are useful in promoting awareness of government services and improving the lives of OFWs and their families. Future research can investigate linkages between government levels (e.g., between national and provincial, national and local) and the health status of service providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new government faces an urgent challenge: revitalising the UK's crumbling public services without major increases in public spending. While technological change holds promise, UK digital government initiatives have failed to reach their full potential over the past twenty‐five years. This article argues that the latest generation of ‘data‐intensive’ technologies, including data science and AI, can succeed where past efforts have faltered. We provide a roadmap for how to harness the power of recent technologies for a more productive and equitable public sector, and pinpoint the organisational changes necessary to develop progressive, technologically enhanced public services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malnutrition remains a pressing public health concern for mothers and children in South Africa. Despite the government's multisectoral response, unaddressed social needs prevent some mothers getting full benefit from interventions, spanning financial planning, income stability, housing, access to government services, social support, and provision of affordable, nutritious foods. Engaging with mothers and prioritising their concerns is important if we wish to overcome obstacles to women benefiting from government nutrition interventions. This study aimed to identify the programmes that women perceived as a priority in addressing the social needs of mothers of young infants and pregnant women to enhance nutrition in a resource-constrained urban township in South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional study employed a quantitative preference elicitation survey, administered to 210 mothers and pregnant women from five primary healthcare facilities in Soweto. The survey tool was developed with the community to identify unmet social needs and potential solutions, which were synthesised with findings from the literature. The survey described 15 programmes, grouped into three delivery levels: clinics, community, and government. Participants were required to rank programme options in two stages. First, they selected their top two programmes within each delivery level. Subsequently, they allocated stickers to indicate the strength of their preference among the top programmes across the levels. Rankings were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: The highest priority was given to five programmes. Two delivered at the community level: Women's economic empowerment groups and Job search assistance, two at the clinic level: Social needs assessment and referral, and Prescription-based food, and one at the government level: Free quality childcare. The lowest-ranked programmes were two clinic-based programmes, specifically Maternal nutrition groups and Couple antenatal education. Conclusion: Women expressed strong views about which programmes should be prioritised to support mothers and pregnant women in addressing their social needs and improving nutrition. Key areas included providing support with job searching and entrepreneurship, accessing childcare and the healthy foods recommended at clinics, as well as finding information on available community and government services. Leveraging multisectoral collaboration, aligned policy objectives, efficient public financing, and strengthened implementation capacity will be pivotal in delivering these programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a cross-sectional study of hypertension care in public and private services, analyzing gender, color, and socioeconomic status. Using data from the 2013 (n = 60,202) and 2019 (n = 90,846) national health surveys, hypertension prevalence increased from 21.4 to 23.9%. Quality of care declined from 41.7 to 35.4%, particularly in public services, disproportionately affecting low-income Black women. Poisson regression estimated prevalence ratios (PRs), with the lowest adjusted PR for high-quality care among low-income Black women. These findings highlight persistent health inequalities and the urgent need for intersectoral policies to promote health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a growing human and animal health concern around the world. When a number of studies have emphasized the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) regarding antibiotic use and resistance in humans, little attention has been paid to the veterinary sector. The aim of this study was to understand the KAP towards antibiotic use and resistance among veterinarians in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional online based questionnaire survey was conducted from August to September 2020 among the registered veterinary practitioners. A self-administered Google form questionnaire consisting of 45 questions on knowledge, attitude and practice regarding antibiotic use and resistance was used. For statistical significance test we used Chi-square or Fisher's Exact test and logistic regression for factor analysis. Results: A total of 208 registered veterinarians participated in this study. The study involved a majority of male participants, constituting 85.1%, while 54.8% of the participants held a Masters degree. Around 52% of the veterinarians were poultry practitioners. All respondents were familiar with antimicrobials. The participants (91.4%) knew that antibiotics cannot cure viral infections, while 97.6% believed that frequent antibiotic prescriptions rendered them less effective. Participants claimed that only they were eligible to prescribe drugs for the treatment of animals, and around 80% disagreed with adding antibiotics with feed/water as a growth promoter in livestock. Of the total participants, 87% believed that a local antimicrobial guideline would be more effective than an international one. A multivariable analysis revealed that male veterinarians have 2.37 times higher knowledge regarding antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) (OR = 2.37, CI = 1.01–5.59, p = 0.05). Veterinarians engaged in government services demonstrated a 2.59 times more favorable attitude towards AMU and AMR (OR = 2.59, CI = 0.99–6.73, p = 0.05). Additionally, respondents aged 31–35 were 0.45 times more likely to exhibit good practices (OR = 0.45, CI = 0.2–1.00, p = 0.05). However, gaps in practices were highlighted in our study, suggesting training deficiencies. Conclusion: The present study, for the first time conducted in Bangladesh, dictates that future interventions like academic courses, workshops, and seminars on antibiotic usage and resistance are needed to facilitate the knowledge, behavior and practice of veterinarians with regard to the rational use of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scientific method for evaluating the design of interfaces is proposed to address the unique characteristics and user needs of infrequent-contact public service interfaces. This method is significant for enhancing service efficiency and promoting the sustainable development of public services. Current interface evaluation methods are limited in scope and often fail to meet actual user needs. To address this, this study focuses on virtual museums, examining users' aesthetic psychology and cognitive behavior in terms of layout aesthetics and visual cognitive characteristics, aiming to explore the relationship between the two. Interface layout aesthetic values and user visual cognitive measurements were obtained by using computational aesthetics methods and eye-tracking experiments. These served as input data for a new model. An improved gray H-convex correlation model utilizing the ICRITIC method is proposed to examine the mapping relationship between interface layout aesthetics and visual cognitive features. The results demonstrate that our new model achieves over 90% accuracy, outperforming existing models. For virtual museum interfaces, symmetry and dominance significantly influence user visual cognition, with the most notable correlations found between density and gaze shift frequency, simplicity and mean pupil diameter, and order and gaze shift frequency. Additionally, fixation duration, fixation count, and mean pupil diameter were inversely correlated with interface layout aesthetics, whereas gaze shift frequency and gaze time percentage were positively correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Wicked problems require collaborative innovation approaches. Understanding the problem from the users' perspective is essential. Based on a complex and ill-defined case, the purpose of the current paper is to identify some critical success factors in defining the "right problem" to be addressed. Design/methodology/approach: An empirical research study was carried out in a low-density municipality (case study). Extensive data were collected from official databases, individual semi-structured interviews and a focus group involving citizens, local authorities, civil servants and other relevant stakeholders. Findings: As defined by the central government, the problem to be addressed by the research team was to identify which justice services should be made available locally to a small- and low-density community. The problem was initially formulated using top-down reasoning. In-depth contact with citizens and key local players revealed that the lack of justice services was not "the issue" for that community. Mobility constraints and the shortage of economic opportunities had a considerable impact on the lack of demand for justice services. By using a bottom-up perspective, it was possible to reframe the problem to be addressed and suggest a new concept to be tested at later stages. Social implications: The approach followed called attention to the importance of listening to citizens and local organisations with a profound knowledge of the territory to effectively identify and circumscribe a local problem in the justice field. Originality/value: The paper highlights the limitations of traditional rational problem-solving approaches and contributes to expanding the voice-of-the-customer principle showing how it can lead to a substantially new definition of the problem to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper establishes a comprehensive framework for evaluating the social life cycle of public services through a thorough examination of existing literature published from 2013 to 2022. The central research question is to determine how insights from this literature review can contribute to the advancement of social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) methodologies within the public sector. Methods: To address this question, we conducted a mixed-methods analysis of data sourced from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The quantitative analysis determined the total number of S-LCA and SO-LCA papers published by main journals, and main authors. The qualitative analysis highlighted the different themes and research objectives addressed in the work relating to the S-LCA of products/services and organizations. Our findings indicate that a total of 222 papers on S-LCA were published across 94 journals. However, there is a noticeable gap in research specifically targeting public services, with most studies concentrating on products, services, and organizations. Despite the absence of direct scientific data, our study identified 17 actors, 74 impact subcategories, and 178 indicators that are potentially relevant to the S-LCA of public services. Given the unique characteristics of public services, it is imperative to develop tailored stakeholder categories, subcategories, and performance indicators for each service type. This approach will facilitate more accurate assessments of the social impacts of public services, thereby aiding both the scientific community and S-LCA practitioners in their evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attainment of public organization goals is closely related to the organizational governance. Good public governance can be realised through the beneficial organizational culture. Therefore, the organizational members’ share values and the nature of relationships network are pertinent to determine the availability of organizational culture practices that supports good public governance among public officers involved in the delivery of public services operations. The study's objective is to analyse the relationships and influence of organizational culture dimensions which are shared values and relationship networks towards good public governance organizational culture. This study employs quantitative approach which is the survey technique to obtain data. A total of 169 civil servants consisting of Management and Professional Group officers served in a government ministry were selected as the sample through the systematic random sampling technique. The multiple linear regression analysis is used to test the relationship and influence between the two dimensions of organizational culture with the organizational culture practices. The study results show significant influence was found between shared values and relationship network with good public governance orientation. Comparatively, the sharing value dimension has more influence than the network of relationships. The theoretical implication is the study proved the relevance of shared values and network of relationships dimensions in supporting the public organization culture oriented at good governance. Thus, public agencies should pay attention to organizational culture based on value sharing and a network of relationships so that organizational culture which support good public governance can be instilled throughout the entire organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological developments have brought changes in the public service process, including in the preparation of Police Record Certificates (SKCK). The introduction of the PRESISI POLRI application as an online platform for the creation of SKCK has increased the efficiency and accessibility of services. This research aims to be a means and forum for information in online SKCK making services to increase public trust in police institutions and optimize performance in law enforcement as a form of improving the quality of public services and realizing integrated Porli public services. This study uses a qualitative method through a descriptive approach by taking the research location at the Cirebon City Resort Police. The data collection technique involves triangulation, which is the combination of several methods such as observation, interviews and documentation. The results of this study have four dimensions to measure effectiveness, namely the accuracy of program goals, program socialization, program objectives and program monitoring. The results of this study show that the effectiveness of the SKCK making program through the PRESISI Application has not been fully effective. Socialization of the application is still not optimal, causing some people to not understand or use the application. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the program showed that while the application has been successful in achieving the accuracy of the goals and monitoring of the program, there are still shortcomings in the socialization and achievement of the program objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Street-level bureaucrats shape policy through using discretion in their interactions with citizens and service users in delivering public services. Discretion allows street-level bureaucrats to bridge between public policy and the complex, individual, human situations they encounter. Drawing on insights from feminist institutionalism, this article establishes gender as a relevant analytical category in understanding discretion. We set out three analytical propositions: street-level bureaucrats work in gendered institutional contexts that shape their discretion; street-level bureaucrats are gendered actors, whose discretion is shaped by their individual gendered dispositions; and street-level bureaucrats' discretion has gendered effects. We investigate these propositions through a case study of the early implementation of the classification of misogyny as a hate crime among police forces in England and Wales. In addressing this analytical intersection between street-level bureaucracy and feminist institutionalism, we bring a gendered perspective to street-level bureaucracy, and a focus on how rules are interpreted to feminist institutionalism, forging new ground in public administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Public services offering gender-affirming care to minors have rapidly expanded across Australia. Despite limited evidence of safety and efficacy, no public information about these services is routinely available. Data from freedom of information requests sent to Australian public gender services for minors is summarised. Gender service numbers increased rapidly in Queensland (2017:190 – 2022:922) and in Victoria (2019:472 – 2023:1290). Limited transparency prevented strong confidence in the number of patients receiving hormone therapy. Staff FTE employed by gender services jumped after 2020 in NSW (to 16.7 across two sites in 2023), Queensland (to 11.4 in 2023), Victoria (to 9.4 in 2022), and WA (to 10.2 in 2023). Conclusions: Despite low confidence in their safety and efficacy, the number of patients seen by public gender services has expanded rapidly since 2018. Limited transparency makes it difficult to judge the number of patients seen, treatments provided, and outcomes achieved. Safe, effective care of this vulnerable group requires clear treatment goals, and annual reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future projections indicate a global increase in heat waves, especially in urban areas due to climate change and the heat island effect, leading to adverse human, economic, and environmental outcomes. Cities worldwide respond by integrating climate mitigation and adaptation measures. While long-term strategies dominate research, this paper explores the increasing interest in short-term solutions, examining the Barcelona Climate Shelter Network. Investigating climate shelter initiatives, it highlights the use of public or private spaces for respite during extreme heat. This model offers insights for other European cities facing escalating heat waves, encouraging reflections on reshaping public services amidst climate crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do citizens hold local politicians accountable? I argue that citizens, especially through neighborhood associations, can use bloc voting as a bottom-up, grassroots strategy to pressure politicians for public services. Politicians monitor polling station voting, and communities switch allegiance if politicians do not deliver. I measure the perceived and actual relationships between community characteristics, bloc voting, and water access—an essential resource prone to political manipulation. I analyze an original household survey and conjoint experiment merged with electoral data in rural Brazil, and qualitative interviews illustrate theoretical mechanisms. Bloc voting is more likely in communities with high trust and participation, and bloc voting improves water access for association members. However, this strategy is only worthwhile for communities that can demonstrate their vote at their polling station. In contrast to top-down explanations of bloc voting, I highlight the interaction of collective action and electoral institutions for accountability and public service provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Policy Studies Journal's third issue for 2024 features 10 articles that explore various aspects of policy process theories and substantive policy domains. The journal has experienced a significant increase in submissions, indicating its growing prominence and interest in policy studies. The editorial team has made progress in managing the increased volume of submissions and has introduced new publication formats, such as Perspectives and Research Notes, to address emerging research topics. The journal has also engaged in collaborations and initiatives to foster communication and exchange within the policy community. The current issue includes articles on topics such as issue attention in policy research, the decline of incrementalism in US lawmaking, and the impact of anxiety on policy learning. Overall, the journal aims to provide valuable insights into policymaking processes and outcomes across diverse contexts. [Extracted from the article]

The relationship between the public and local government is crucial for the success of government in carrying out its duties. Despite this, the public is not always willing to engage with government. Previous research tells us that negative personal bureaucratic interactions can politically demobilize. However, little is known about whether feedback effects on participation are particular to offending government agencies or similarly felt by other organizations in a community. Building on studies of policy feedback, this study investigates how police killings, a form of community police contact, influence the public's willingness to engage with both local police and other local public services. Negative events, even when not directly experienced, disempower the public and undermine legitimacy, depressing participation. We test the effects of policing killings on participation using both observational data on 911 calls and 311 requests and a survey experiment where we manipulate exposure to a community police killing. We find evidence of decreased participation with local police and local government more broadly, contributing to our understanding of policy feedback, policing, and provision of public services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the needs of residents is vital in public administration and management, as this helps officials when making choices on policies and service distribution. Increasingly, cities rely on 311 systems to elicit information from residents on emergent needs in particular policy areas (e.g., road quality, pest control). For residents, 311 systems provide a low‐cost means of voicing concerns, whereas for public officials and researchers, they provide low‐cost data on specific, discrete needs. We argue that residents systematically differ in their engagement with 311 systems, with lower‐income, minority communities less likely to participate and, therefore, less likely to receive city services. We test this argument using census‐tract data from the city of Houston and find that 311 reports are significantly less frequent in areas with lower average socioeconomic status, more Black residents, and more Hispanic residents. Furthermore, we find that these same areas are more likely to have potholes. Taken together, our results indicate that despite greater need (more potholes), fewer services are demanded (less 311 reports) in areas with lower socioeconomic status and a higher percentage of minority residents. This suggests that public officials need to carefully consider heterogeneity in 311 participation to ensure these systems do not inadvertently exacerbate inequities in public services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the rapid development of blockchain technology, the issues of storage load and data security have attracted increasing attention. Due to the immutable nature of data on the blockchain, where data can only be added and not deleted, there is a significant increase in storage pressure on blockchain nodes. In order to alleviate this burden, this paper proposes a blockchain data storage strategy based on a hot and cold block mechanism. It employs a block heat evaluation algorithm to assess the historical and correlation-based heat indicators of blocks, enabling the identification of frequently accessed block data for storage within the blockchain nodes. Conversely, less frequently accessed or "cold" block data are offloaded to cloud storage systems. This approach effectively reduces the overall storage pressure on blockchain nodes. Furthermore, in applications such as healthcare and government services that utilize blockchain technology, it is essential to encrypt stored data to safeguard personal privacy and enforce access control measures. To address this need, we introduce a blockchain data encryption storage mechanism based on threshold secret sharing. Leveraging threshold secret sharing technology, the encryption key for blockchain data is fragmented into multiple segments and distributed across network nodes. These encrypted key segments are further secured through additional encryption using public keys before being stored. This method serves to significantly increase attackers' costs associated with accessing blockchain data. Additionally, our proposed encryption scheme ensures that each block has an associated encryption key that is stored alongside its corresponding block data. This design effectively mitigates vulnerabilities such as weak password attacks. Experimental results demonstrate that our approach achieves efficient encrypted storage of data while concurrently reducing the storage pressure experienced by blockchain nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This study examines the role of the Bali Regional Police in providing accountable and transparent police record certificate (SKCK) services and identifies the obstacles faced in the issuance of these certificates. The research employs a normative method, utilizing primary legal materials such as laws and regulations, alongside secondary materials including relevant literature. Despite extensive studies on public service delivery, there remains a gap concerning the implementation of national service standards for police record certificates in Indonesia. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of these standards in Bali, highlighting the factors influencing service quality and public satisfaction. The results indicate that the Bali Regional Police play a significant role in providing accountable and transparent SKCK services, as measured by service quality indicators across five dimensions: Tangible, Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance, and Empathy. However, obstacles such as inadequate facilities and infrastructure, insufficient human resources, and low public awareness hinder optimal service delivery. Recommendations include enhancing facilities and infrastructure, improving human resource management, conducting public awareness campaigns, and regular evaluations to ensure continuous service improvement. This study provides new insights into the implementation of national service standards for police record certificates in Indonesia, offering valuable recommendations for enhancing public service quality and satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between the demand for public transportation and land use is critical to promoting public-transportation-oriented urban development. Taking Beijing as an example, we took the Public Transportation Index (PTI) during the working day's early peak hours as the dependent variable. And 15 land use and built environment variables were selected as the independent variables according to the "7D" built environment dimensions. According to the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP), the size and shape of the spatial units will affect the aggregation results of the dependent variable and the independent variables. To find the ideal spatial unit division method, we assess how well the nonlinear model fits several spatial units. Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) was utilized to investigate the nonlinear effects of the built environment on PTI and threshold effects based on the ideal spatial unit. The results show that (1) the best spatial unit division method is based on traffic analysis zones (TAZs); (2) the top four explanatory variables affecting PTI are, in order: mean travel distance, residential density, subway station density, and public services density; (3) there are nonlinear relationships and significant threshold effects between the land use variables and PTI. The priority regeneration TAZs were identified according to the intersection analysis of the low PTI TAZs set and the PTI-sensitive TAZs set based on different land use variables. Prioritized urban regeneration TAZs require targeted strategies, and the results of the study may provide a scientific basis for proposing strategies to renew land use to increase PTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article undertakes a comprehensive study of worldwide literature gathered from the Web of Science database, using bibliometric analysis. The analysis covers all the years, and most publications are from 1988 to 2024. The primary focus of the inquiry centres on the development of public service concept, public services citizens' satisfaction, services' stakeholders, public services' quality and performance during this period. The assessment of public services quality by citizens has been a prominent subject of scholarly investigation for a considerable period of time. By conducting keyword co-occurrence analysis on pertinent literature, our objective was to uncover dominant themes and track trends over a period of time. Novel insights were obtained by generating density, network, and overlay maps using VOS Viewer software. The keyword co-occurrence analysis performed using VOS Viewer unveiled an intricate and interrelated network of study themes within the literature on stakeholders' perceptions of the quality and performance of public services. The study discovered four main clusters, each reflecting separate yet intersecting research topics. An in-depth analysis of these clusters provides significant insights into the emerging patterns and key areas of interest in this subject. This research provides essential insights for both academic and practical applications in public services, establishing a foundation for future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remunicipalisation of local public services has attracted the interest of scholars from different fields of the social sciences in recent years. Whereas earlier studies into this phenomenon were dominated by case-based analysis, there has been a noteworthy increase in quantitative studies in recent years. There is now, abundant evidence on the drivers of remunicipalisation especially the influence of pragmatic and political motivations. Other topics, such as the effects of remunicipalisation, however, remain underdeveloped. We provide an overview of the scope and dynamics of remunicipalisation, recent advances in its research, and discuss where future research should be directed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to prevent corruption in the form of improving the quality of public service transparency are one of the most crucial things to be done in Indonesia. (KPK, 2023). This is carried out through the Corruption Prevention Network (Jaga) program by the KPK which aims to encourage transparency in public services and public participation in corruption prevention. Unfortunately, the program has not run well based on the assessment of respondents in the Jaga user survey because it has not reached all areas prone to corruption and the complaint resolution rate is low. This study aims to evaluate the Jaga program and assess the suitability of the Jaga program with the Fraud Risk Management (FRM) framework. This study concludes that in general, the Jaga program is in line with the FRM framework but needs to be improved in terms of documentation of the Jaga concept, the implementation of comprehensive and periodic corruption risk assessments, the development of specific preventive controls based on the intervening public service sector, the improvement of the mechanism for handling complaints of indications of corruption, and the implementation of periodic monitoring of FRM implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk is an important factor that hinders entrepreneurial activities, especially for entrepreneurs with high aspirations. This study examines e-government's impact on entrepreneurship from a risk perspective. Based on individual data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, results show that e-government promotes new ventures, especially those with aspirations to grow and innovate, thus enhancing the quantity and quality of entrepreneurship. Furthermore, mechanism analysis reveals that e-government significantly reduces actual risk and fear of failure, suggesting that it creates a stable environment and decreases risk aversion, which encourages starting new ventures and high-quality entrepreneurial activities. E-government reduces entrepreneurial risk by improving country governance in three dimensions: efficiency of public services, regulatory quality, and control of corruption. Besides, e-government has larger effects on enhancing the quality of entrepreneurship in developing economies. This study provides new insight into e-government's effects on entrepreneurship and the mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the last few years, blockchain has emerged as a cutting-edge technology whose main advantages are transparency, traceability, immutability, enhanced efficiency, and trust, thanks to its decentralized nature. Although many people still identify blockchain with cryptocurrencies and the financial sector, it has many prospective applications beyond digital currency that can serve as use cases for which traditional infrastructures have become obsolete. Governments have started exploring its potential application to public services provision, as confirmed by the increasing number of adoption initiatives, projects, and tests. As the current public administration is often perceived as slow, bureaucratic, lacking transparency, and failing to involve citizens in decision-making processes, blockchain can establish itself as a tool that enables a process of disintermediation, which can revolutionize the way in which public services are managed and provided. In this paper, we will provide a survey of the main application areas which are likely to benefit from blockchain implementation, together with examples of practical implementations carried out by both state and local governments. Later, we will discuss the main challenges that may prevent its widespread adoption, such as government expenditure, technological maturity, and lack of public awareness. Finally, we will wrap up by providing indications on future areas of research for blockchain-based technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Engineering Management / Gongcheng Guanli Xuebao is the property of Journal of Engineering Management Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rural livelihood resilience (RLR) is significant for the sustainability of rural areas, farmers and agriculture. This research takes the mountainous areas of Southwest China as the study areas and integrates the buffer, adjustment and renewal capabilities to construct a RLR analysis framework and evaluation indicator system. The RLR of 234 sample counties was evaluated using set pair analysis, and the influencing factors of RLR were investigated using Geodetector. The aim is to scientifically analyze the vertical spatial differentiation and influencing factors of RLR and fully explore the risk-resistant potential of rural livelihood systems in mountainous areas. The results show that (1) From 2000 to 2020, RLR increases significantly, but the level is still low, and its structure shows a primary pattern of "buffer capability > adjustment capability > renewal capability". (2) There is no significant negative correlation between RLR and terrain gradients, especially in the middle and low mountains. RLR in high mountainous areas is significantly lower than in low and medium mountainous areas, but the gap is narrowing. There are no significant gaps in RLR and various capabilities between low and medium mountain areas. (3) Economic development, non-agricultural industries and grassroots autonomous organizations are essential determinants for RLR. Economic development, grassroots autonomous organizations and transportation conditions are more important in low and medium mountain areas, while non-agricultural industries and medical conditions contribute more to high mountainous areas. (4) To enhance the RLR, policy recommendations should place a strong emphasis on extending the agricultural industry chain, improving rural production and living infrastructure and strengthening the supply of high-quality social public services. The findings can provide a scientific basis for governments to implement rural revitalization strategies and improve farmers' well-being, as well as practical guidance for enhancing the risk resistance ability of underdeveloped mountainous rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural change has long been at the core of economic development debates. However, the gender implications of structural change are still largely unexplored. This paper helps to fill this gap by analysing the role of structural change in the gender distribution of sectoral employment in sub‐Saharan African countries. I employ aggregate and disaggregate measures of gender sectoral segregation in employment, which measure the difference between the gender distribution across sectors with respect to the overall participation of women and men in the labour market. I build a panel database consisting of 10 sectors and 11 countries during 1960–2010. Fixed effects and instrumental variables' regression models show a significant, nonlinear link between labour productivity and gender segregation. Increasing labour productivity depresses gender segregation at initial phases of structural change. However, further productivity gains beyond a certain threshold of sectoral development increases gender segregation. Country‐industry panel data models complement the analysis showing that relative labour productivity has a nonlinear impact in gender segregation: Initial increases in relative productivity increases feminization but further relative productivity gains foster the masculinization of sectors. The estimates suggest that manufacturing, utilities, construction, business, and government services are key to correct gender biases in employment along the process of structural change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]