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Access to reliable, affordable, sustainable, and modern energy, along with the empowerment and increased participation of women in decision-making and politics, are fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth by the United Nations (UN). The UN accentuates the critical role of women in politics for the successful attainment of the SDGs. This study delves into this aspect by investigating the impact of female political representation on access to electricity. Additionally, the study examines the influence of government efficiency, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, urbanization, and economic growth in Nigeria, utilizing data spanning from 2003Q1 to 2021Q4. Employing advanced econometric techniques such as wavelet quantile regression, wavelet quantile correlation, and quantile-on-quantile Granger causality analysis, our analysis reveals noteworthy insights. Our findings reveal a correlation between heightened female political representation and decreased access to electricity in Nigeria. Additionally, we note the beneficial impacts of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, economic growth, and governmental efficiency on the accessibility of electricity. Furthermore, our quantile-on-quantile Granger causality analysis highlights the predictive capabilities of female political representation, urbanization, FDI, and economic growth regarding electricity accessibility in Nigeria. Drawing from the insights gleaned in our study, we have crafted substantial policy recommendations designed to tackle the identified challenges and promote advancements in both electricity access and women's political engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the applications and implications of blockchain technology in the Australian higher education system, focusing on its integration with artificial intelligence (AI). By addressing critical challenges in credential verification, administrative efficiency, and academic integrity, this integration aims to enhance the global competitiveness of Australian higher education institutions. A comprehensive review of 25 recent research papers quantifies the benefits, challenges, and prospects of blockchain adoption in educational settings. Our findings reveal that 52% of the reviewed papers focus on systematic reviews, 28% focus on application-based studies, and 20% combine both approaches. The keyword analysis identified 287 total words, with "blockchain" and "education" as the most prominent themes. This study highlights blockchain's potential to improve credential management, academic integrity, administrative efficiency, and funding mechanisms in education. However, challenges such as technical implementation (24%), regulatory compliance (32%), environmental concerns (28%), and data security risks (40%) must be addressed to achieve widespread adoption. This study also discusses critical prerequisites for successful blockchain integration, including infrastructure development, staff training, regulatory harmonisation, and the incorporation of AI for personalised learning. Our research concludes that blockchain, when strategically implemented and combined with AI, has the potential to transform the Australian higher education system, significantly enhancing its integrity, efficiency, and global competitiveness. [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.)

Fintech solutions offer innovative tools and platforms that streamline financial operations, enhance convenience, and improve efficiency. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of fintech on administrative efficiency among universities in Bangladesh. To fulfil this purpose, this research assesses the current level of fintech adoption among university students in Bangladesh and seeks to gain insights into students' perceptions and attitudes towards fintech, particularly in relation to its impact on administrative tasks within their respective universities. Finally, this research identifies the challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of fintech in administrative processes and explores potential strategies to address them effectively. This research used both quantitative and qualitative strategies to achieve these goals. A survey was conducted to collect quantitative data from the university students of Bangladesh. Findings show that the adoption and usage of fintech have a statistically significant positive impact on administrative efficiency, resource allocation and utilisation, enhanced communication, and a sustainable and eco-friendly administrative environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dominant approach to war and state-building attributes state development to wartime growth of extractive capacity. Yet we know little about the administrative foundation through which extractive capacity is increased spatially, beyond the central policy level. Using railways as an example of a state-building asset, I revisit the role of external threat on state-building, with evidence drawing upon detailed historical data from nineteenth-century India during a crucial period of Anglo–Russo rivalry. I find that conflict with Russia led to expansion of railways in the Northwest Frontier bordering Afghanistan, the buffer between British India and Russia, which led to improved performance of local tax administrators. The findings suggest that external conflict promotes state development through provision of logistical networks enabling greater administrative efficiency in geographically distant frontiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a methodology to map structural reforms from granular data to an aggregate model, exploring their transmission mechanisms and their macroeconomic and social impacts. The study focuses on the rich case of the reforms associated with the Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan. We document a significant potential impact on medium- and long-term GDP and find that the labour market and education measures are the main drivers of the impact on GDP and employment. We also examine the distributional impact of the reforms on the functional income distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the evolution of governance models within public administrations as they respond to complex socio-political challenges. It emphasizes the need to enhance the legitimacy and representativeness of decision-making processes in the face of persistent issues, social fragmentation, increasing inequalities, and political polarization. The study discusses two primary models: citizen participation, which promotes a more engaged form of democracy, and representative bureaucracy, which seeks to ensure that public administration reflects socio-demographic diversity. However, these frameworks have flaws, particularly in achieving representativeness and maintaining administrative efficiency. To address these issues, the concept of "Externally Active Representative Bureaucracy" (EARB) is proposed, which involves incorporating citizens directly into administrative structures to address specific challenges while improving the legitimacy and representativeness of decisions. The article reviews 155 academic articles to explore the various dimensions and effects of representative bureaucracy and citizen participation. The objective is to illustrate that EARB provides an innovative approach to public administration that bridges bureaucratic efficiency with citizen inclusion, inviting further research into this hybrid model to enhance our understanding of the operation of modern public administrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Non-)implementation of rules is a key issue in the EU literature. During the European 'migration crisis' in 2015/16, several member states openly deviated from the clear rules the legal framework of Schengen and Dublin established. Although these controversies have attracted much attention, member states' authorities can also deviate from European rules in everyday decision making. Little is known about this leeway. For example, the Dublin system allows countries to send asylum seekers in an 'outgoing procedure' when they conclude that another Dublin state is responsible for the asylum application. This paper develops the argument that efficiency considerations lead national authorities to specialise in asylum seekers from countries from which they already have many residents. Asylum seekers from these countries are less likely to be sent in an outgoing procedure. The Dublin system does not intend this type of selection based on nationality. Using unique, high-quality register panel data from Switzerland, the statistical analysis of multilevel models shows that an outgoing procedure is indeed more likely for applicants from countries with a comparatively small number of residents. The findings of this analysis have broader implications for the Common European Asylum System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration presents both hurdles and benefits in special education administrative efficiency and educational effectiveness, with promising future potential. The manuscript presents a case study focused on leveraging AI for data synthesis and communication in special education administration. Findings indicate AI augmented decision-making, optimizes resource allocation, and enhances outcomes for students with disabilities. Discussion includes challenges associated with AI regarding data consistency, the need for staff training, and the importance of administrative knowledge of the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to evaluate the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in leadership succession planning of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in the Nias Regency Government. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods was used, with in-depth interviews and analysis of performance data using AI. The research was conducted from July to August 2024 at the Office of the Regent of Nias, North Sumatra. The results showed that the application of AI improved efficiency and objectivity in the succession process, with AI's ability to deeply analyze ASN performance data and identify the right candidates for promotion. However, challenges such as limited resources, additional training needs, and data management must be overcome. The conclusion of this study is that AI can improve leadership succession planning in Nias Regency Government by increasing efficiency and reducing bias, provided that implementation challenges are properly addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the rationale why some countries fare better in resolving social problems such as poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic. The simple model introduces the term of resident viability and points out that the solution to a social problem with a large ratio of nonviable to viable residents requires the mobilisation of more societal resources, and the affordable price ratio of societal to individual resources is determined by country characteristics such as the cultural background, political regime, ideology towards the free-market mechanism, government efficiency and social trust. This study also makes between-country comparisons and conducts preliminary regression analyses with cross-country data, and all the results are consistent with the model predictions on the relationship between country characteristics and country performances in fighting poverty and handling the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic literature has made an effort to demonstrate the positive effects of privatisation reforms on government performance and economic growth. However, there is no sufficient evidence to support the benefits of privatisation in terms of government spending efficiency. This study analyses the correlation between privatisation and government spending efficiency. Our empirical results do not support a positive effect of privatisation on government spending efficiency. These findings are relevant because they suggest that, although privatisation has been usually seen as a tool to balance public finances, it does not mean that government spending efficiency will be higher after privatising State‐owned enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are gradually realizing that urban community resilience is pivotal for effectively managing public health emergencies. This study employed grounded theory to establish a theoretical framework for epidemic resilience of urban communities (ERUC) in the post-pandemic era. Subsequently, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-interpretive structural modeling (ISM) method is utilized to discern the significance and hierarchical interrelations among influencing factors. The findings delineate that 14 determinants shaping ERUC are organized into five distinct tiers. Notably, nine determinants emerge as principal: vulnerable group; educational attainment; risk perception; medical insurance coverage; communal norms; community emergency response; community services; resident participation; and government efficacy. Among these, the vulnerable group and government efficiency are identified as foundational factors, while medical insurance coverage, resident participation, and community infrastructure are identified as direct influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology offers features of immutability, decentralization, transparency, and fault tolerance which hold great potential for transforming the traditional educational credit management processes. This paper presents a framework for implementing the Academic Bank of Credit using blockchain for transparent student mobility within or between HEIs through a structured credit recognition, accumulation, transfer, and redemption system. The proof of concept of the proposed framework is implemented using Ethereum smart contracts in accordance with the ERC-20 token standard, to create, redeem, and manage academic credits on a decentralized and immutable system of blockchain. The framework incorporates features of access revocation and unique identity generation and authentication in the credit bank. The cost computation examines the framework for the practical adoption of blockchain-based solutions. The data integrity and confidentiality offered by the framework for transparent credit transfer are examined by the security measures. The findings highlight the potential of blockchain to revolutionize traditional credit management, improve administrative efficiency, and provide a secure and transparent foundation for credit transfers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds transformative potential for the healthcare industry, offering innovative solutions for diagnosis, treatment planning, and improving patient outcomes. As AI continues to be integrated into healthcare systems, it promises advancements across various domains. This review explores the diverse applications of AI in healthcare, along with the challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of AI's impact on healthcare and to identify areas for further development and focus. Main Applications: The review discusses the broad range of AI applications in healthcare. In medical imaging and diagnostics, AI enhances the accuracy and efficiency of diagnostic processes, aiding in early disease detection. AI-powered clinical decision support systems assist healthcare professionals in patient management and decision-making. Predictive analytics using AI enables the prediction of patient outcomes and identification of potential health risks. AI-driven robotic systems have revolutionized surgical procedures, improving precision and outcomes. Virtual assistants and chatbots enhance patient interaction and support, providing timely information and assistance. In the pharmaceutical industry, AI accelerates drug discovery and development by identifying potential drug candidates and predicting their efficacy. Additionally, AI improves administrative efficiency and operational workflows in healthcare, streamlining processes and reducing costs. AI-powered remote monitoring and telehealth solutions expand access to healthcare, particularly in underserved areas. Challenges and Limitations: Despite the significant promise of AI in healthcare, several challenges persist. Ensuring the reliability and consistency of AI-driven outcomes is crucial. Privacy and security concerns must be navigated carefully, particularly in handling sensitive patient data. Ethical considerations, including bias and fairness in AI algorithms, need to be addressed to prevent unintended consequences. Overcoming these challenges is critical for the ethical and successful integration of AI in healthcare. Conclusion: The integration of AI into healthcare is advancing rapidly, offering substantial benefits in improving patient care and operational efficiency. However, addressing the associated challenges is essential to fully realize the transformative potential of AI in healthcare. Future efforts should focus on enhancing the reliability, transparency, and ethical standards of AI technologies to ensure they contribute positively to global health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healthcare industry is transforming, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerging as a powerful tool for revolutionizing patient care, medical research, and administrative efficiency. However, successfully implementing AI projects in this highly regulated and complex environment requires a unique blend of expertise. Enter the project manager (PM) and the Project Management Office (PMO) -- two crucial roles that are the backbone for ensuring the successful integration of AI in healthcare. This article, the first of two parts, delves into the critical roles PMs and PMOs play in navigating the complexities of AI-enabled healthcare projects. With input from 22 experts, we have investigated specific challenges PMs and PMOs face, the skillsets they need, and the strategies they could employ to ensure the successful development, deployment, and continuous improvement of AI solutions within the healthcare landscape. While part 1 of this series focused on crucial project manager concepts, this concluding article focuses on the role of PMOs in AI-driven healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare has ushered in transformative advancements. In diagnostics, AI has revolutionized precision by excelling in radiology, pathology, and novel approaches like liquid biopsy analysis. Personalized treatment plans benefit from AI's ability to tailor interventions, minimizing risks and maximizing therapeutic efficacy. Administrative efficiency sees notable improvements as AI automates tasks, optimizes resource allocation, and addresses scalability challenges. Ethical considerations, encompassing data privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparency, are crucial for responsible AI adoption. Guided by the fair principles, stakeholders can promote fairness, accountability, and transparency. Findings in this paper reveal AI's rapid advancements in healthcare enhance diagnostics, surgery, and patient care, yet reliance on its accuracy requires caution. The future of AI in healthcare relies on ongoing collaboration, research, and adherence to ethical frameworks, promising a patient-centered and equitable healthcare landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decree law 5/2024 amends Law 6/2022 on climate change and energy transition in the Canary Islands to streamline the processing of renewable energy and climate adaptation projects. Administrative efficiency measures are introduced and renewable energy penetration targets are established in the Canary Islands. Changes are made to the regulation of the electricity sector and land use to promote energy transition. The regulations also address emission reduction, energy efficiency, and climate change adaptation in the Canary Islands. [Extracted from the article]

The study focuses on analyzing internal communication in a municipal government, highlighting the potential of a comprehensive system to boost administrative efficiency. It emphasizes the importance of effective communication to promote agile and transparent interaction among employees. The main purpose was to analyse the organizational communication management of a municipal government in Brazil, identifying areas that require improvement to foster integration and communicative standardization among departments and secretariats. We adopted a quantitative approach through the application of a questionnaire composed of closed-ended questions. The results evidenced a lack of a strategic organizational communication system and gaps in understanding communicative elements and knowledge of how the communication context of the municipal government impacts individuals communication. The findings underscore the need for measures to enhance organizational communication, such as creating a dedicated communication department, with defined functions and appropriate prioritization, which is crucial for optimizing institutional performance and establishing a solid foundation for effective interaction with involved stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government competence in delivering outcomes is often regarded as foundational to political trust. However, in this article, a different competence dynamic is proposed; specifically, whether political trust is related to government efficiency in achieving promised policy objectives. This article argues that when policy objectives are polarizing, the effect of efficiency on political trust is conditional on whether individuals support or oppose the objective. Using the case of Brexit, where the promised policy objective of leaving the European Union was polarizing, it is hypothesized that Leave voters relative to Remain voters became more trusting in cases of efficiency and less trusting in cases of inefficiency. The predictions are supported through a difference-in-differences analysis of unique real-world data over time from the British Election Study. The findings have important implications for our understanding of Brexit and also inform how political trust relates to government competence in the case of polarizing political issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technologies change common and routine processes and open new opportunities for their optimization. Our research aim was to test the hypothesis about the efficiency of information technology tools in public institutions' management; is the e-government system dependent on the level of information technology development or on the level of institutional development? An empirical analysis of the effects of institutional and technical factors on e-government systems in a sample of 193 countries was provided. Were studied data about the e-government system quality and development; of the institutions, Internet, and telecommunication development as well as statistical information about e-government service websites using. The intensity and efficiency of using e-government systems depend on the mentioned factors. The level of institutional development affects the intensity and effectiveness of the use of egovernment systems both directly and indirectly, through a variable characterizing the quality of e-government systems. Advanced information technology factors only indirectly affect the intensity and effectiveness of the use of e-government systems. There is no statistically significant inverse relationship between efficiently and effectively operating e-government systems and variables which characterize the institutions and information technologies development. New rules and procedures in the electronic environment can generally affect the development of state institutions. However, such effects were not detected in our research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, government agencies are using computers to automate decisions about citizens. Often, the reason proffered for this is increased efficiency. This article reveals the extent to which computer automated decision-making processes in government are being legislatively adopted, provides an overview of the risks associated with such incorporation and analyses the limited extent to which the parliament has considered these associated risks. We analysed 35 core pieces of Commonwealth legislation that allow computers to make decisions on behalf of the administrative decision-maker. The Commonwealth government has authorised at least 35 of its agencies to use computers to make decisions and in doing so has expanded its power. This has occurred without much debate. We reviewed the associated secondary materials – including second reading speeches and parliamentary debates – to understand the level of discussion on the issue. Surprisingly, our analysis reveals that most amendments have passed with little to no debate. While the drive for governmental efficiency is commendable, failing to adequately debate the risks involved in automating administrative decisions undermines core administrative law principles and exposes governmental agencies and, more importantly, the Australian population to the risk of serious error. This article calls for increased debate before these authorisations are made and the incorporation of audit and review processes to control the use of this power by government agencies ex post. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healthcare industry is transforming, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerging as a powerful tool for revolutionizing patient care, medical research, and administrative efficiency. However, successfully implementing AI projects in this highly regulated and complex environment requires a unique blend of expertise. Enter the project manager (PM) and the Project Management Office (PMO) - two crucial roles that are the backbone for ensuring the successful integration of AI in healthcare. This article, the first of two parts, delves into the critical roles PMs and PMOs play in navigating the complexities of AI-enabled healthcare projects. With input from 22 experts, we have investigated specific challenges PMs and PMOs face, the skillsets they need, and the strategies they could employ to ensure the successful development, deployment, and continuous improvement of AI solutions within the healthcare landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically links the efficiency and performance assessment of the general government, proxied by efficiency scores, to the trust in government. Government spending efficiency scores are first computed via data envelopment analysis (DEA). Then, relying on panel data and instrumental variable approaches, we estimate the effect of public sector efficiency on citizens trust on national governments. The sample covers 36 OECD countries between 2007 and 2019. We find that the more efficient countries in terms of government spending are Australia, Chile, Ireland, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland. Secondly, our main finding is that better public sector spending efficiency is positively associated with citizens' higher trust in governments. In general, political economy variables and the existence of fiscal rules do not seem to significantly affect our measure of trust. The results hold using alternative proxies for public sector efficiency, alternative measures for trust, specifications with different control variables and different empirical approaches (instrumental variables). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a platform for the trading of bulk commodities, securities, and futures, exchanges, characterized by platform‐like attributes, provide inexhaustible power for the further development of commodity economy through horizontal integration. This paper examines the international integration landscape of the modern exchanges through the lens of platform economy theory, specifically examining the ramifications of their horizontal integration on market efficiency. Employing the net utility hypothesis within the Hotelling model, we construct a nuanced trader utility model. Through a comparative analysis of platform profit, trader utility, and social welfare, the research discerns the impact of exchanges' horizontal integration. We highlight the intrinsic incentives for such integration within exchanges and put forth pertinent policy recommendations, adding a dimension of practical relevance to the academic discourse. The paper concludes by highlighting the role of government in promoting the efficiency of platform enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a sample of EU banks covering the period 2007 to 2021, I explore the impact of gendered language on bank board diversity policies. I find that gendered language negatively affects banks' gender diversity practices, especially after the passage of board reforms. Further, I find that rule of law and government efficiency explain the relationship, suggesting that these are useful mechanisms to reduce the negative effect of language gender‐marking orientation on banks' gender diversity practices. However, results do not show a statistically significant effect of board gender diversity on riskiness of banks operating in countries with higher language gender orientation. My study provides a timely contribution to the literature by filling the gap regarding the importance of language gender‐marking orientation in explaining banks' diversity practices and suggesting that regulators and institutions should take stronger actions aimed at reducing such cross‐country heterogeneity. It also provides useful insights for EU regulators following the passage of the mandatory "Women on Boards" Directive in 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of government expenditure on real growth in ECOWAS countries. This paper used panel cointegration techniques to examine the impact of government expenditure on economic growth for a sample of 15 ECOWAS countries between 1999 and 2021. The study uses the POLS, FMOLS, and DOLS techniques for estimating four models. The study supports the view that government expenditure positively affects real economic growth in ECOWAS countries. However, we also found that higher control of corruption improves the effectiveness and efficiency of government expenditure in promoting economic growth. Furthermore, a higher incidence of conflict minimizes the effectiveness and efficiency of government expenditure in promoting economic growth. The finding suggests that a well-managed government can contribute positively to economic growth. The finding that government expenditure positively affects real growth in ECOWAS countries suggests that a well-managed government can contribute positively to economic growth. This finding is helpful for policymakers in ECOWAS countries interested in improving their countries' economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal mergers are a common administrative reform worldwide, but their effects on public employment size and citizen satisfaction remain poorly understood. This study investigates these effects by focusing on a city-county merger in South Korea after 2000. Using the synthetic control method and multivariate regression, we find that municipal mergers increase the number of public employees, primarily low-ranking officials, while negatively impacting citizen satisfaction. This suggests that the goal of enhancing administrative efficiency through local government consolidation does not yield positive outcomes for organizations' personnel or residents' welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local governments contract with each other for a wide variety of purposes: to deliver services, administer grant money, coordinate emergency responses, and manage infrastructure projects. These interlocal agreements (ILAs) have been embraced by local officials keen to forge administrative efficiencies in an environment of limited resources. By contracting with neighboring and overlapping governments, a local entity can draw upon funding and technical skills that it does not otherwise possess alone, operating in theory to the ultimate benefit of residents across its region. Yet, the growing prevalence of ILAs belies two underappreciated features of their use. First, when governments enter into ILAs, they do not only exchange basic services and pursue technocratic efficiencies; they also create new policies, announce substantive priorities, and establish new governance frameworks. ILAs are especially prominent in collaborative policing regimes. Acting through an ILA, local governments can expand and dissolve policing jurisdictions, create new cross-jurisdictional policing programs, increase and consolidate jail facilities, and provide rights to certain inmates while declining to extend those same rights to others. ILAs thus function as consequential lawmaking documents-even as they also operate outside the ordinary legislative channels that constrict formal exercises of local power. Second, ILAs fundamentally suffer from a deficit of democratic accountability. Local legislatures are remarkably removed from the negotiations by which ILAs are executed, implemented, monitored, and modified. The very factors that make ILAs potent-vague and confidential terms, malleable ratification procedures, ironclad contract law fortifications-render them difficult for members of the public to scrutinize, let alone, at times, even access. And ILAs regularly give birth to brand-new local government entities, which then breed with each other, using subsequent ILAs to create subsequent local entities, a domino effect of local power and attenuated local accountability. The promise of ILAs as organs of regional lawmaking comes at the peril of public transparency. This mismatch-between expansive power and limited transparency-is no legal accident, but rather can be traced directly to state statutory schemes. Nearly all states have adopted interlocal cooperation acts that broadly empower ILAs and often contain filing requirements to ensure their transparency. Yet public stakeholders systematically fail to take these requirements seriously. Local governments do not consistently follow them, state agencies do not consistently monitor them, and courts do not consistently enforce them. Their collective inactions enable a transparency void. As this Article explains, ILAs must- and can-be brought more firmly into the local governance spotlight without sacrificing their increasingly integral role in the legislative toolkit. In the process, the Article also paints a different picture of local institutions under a federal system: one where local actors navigate state oversight as it is expressed through administrative silence, separate and distinct from manifestations of oversight expressed through political voice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While businesses fluctuate with politics, firms try to find ways to deal with uncertainty. We investigate how political incentives shape corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting activities using the setting of China. Based on a sample of non-mandatory CSR disclosure firms, we find that firms experiencing political turnover are more inclined to issue CSR reports voluntarily, supporting the political connection demand hypothesis rather than the political cost hypothesis. Such effects are more prominent when the political turnover is unexpected and successors are non-locals. Meanwhile, non-SOEs, not politically connected enterprises, and firms located in low government efficiency areas are more likely to issue CSR reports. Further analysis shows that these firms disclosed CSR information experiencing political turnover fail to ensure the reporting quality but can obtain resources in the future. Overall, we highlight that CSR disclosure is a way for firms to establish political connections with politicians. Our study sheds light on the determinants of voluntary CSR disclosure from a political perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop and evaluate a semi-automated workflow using natural language processing (NLP) for sharing positive patient feedback with radiology staff, assessing its efficiency and impact on radiology staff morale. The HIPAA-compliant, institutional review board–waived implementation study was conducted from April 2022 to June 2023 and introduced a Patient Praises program to distribute positive patient feedback to radiology staff collected from patient surveys. The study transitioned from an initial manual workflow to a hybrid process using an NLP model trained on 1,034 annotated comments and validated on 260 holdout reports. The times to generate Patient Praises e-mails were compared between manual and hybrid workflows. Impact of Patient Praises on radiology staff was measured using a four-question Likert scale survey and an open text feedback box. Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc Dunn's test were performed to evaluate differences in time for different workflows. From April 2022 to June 2023, the radiology department received 10,643 patient surveys. Of those surveys, 95.6% contained positive comments, with 9.6% (n = 978) shared as Patient Praises to staff. After implementation of the hybrid workflow in March 2023, 45.8% of Patient Praises were sent through the hybrid workflow and 54.2% were sent manually. Time efficiency analysis on 30-case subsets revealed that the hybrid workflow without edits was the most efficient, taking a median of 0.7 min per case. A high proportion of staff found the praises made them feel appreciated (94%) and valued (90%) responding with a 5/5 agreement on 5-point Likert scale responses. A hybrid workflow incorporating NLP significantly improves time efficiency for the Patient Praises program while increasing feelings of acknowledgment and value among staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to identify the link between artificial intelligence and public policy and its role in improving the quality of governance. Using review and comparative method, this paper studies the experience of countries that have used artificial intelligence in policy-making and public service delivery processes, and from this point of view, draw an initial analytical framework that can help explain the role of artificial intelligence in the quality of governance. The results show that artificial intelligence affects the quality of governance from two dimensions: 1) increasing the dynamics and interaction of the public policy cycle in different stages and 2) improving the quality of government services and the efficiency of the administrative apparatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Necmettin Erbakan University Journal of the Faculty of Political Science / Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Siyasal Bilgiler Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Necmettin Erbakan University Journal of The Faculty of Political Science 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.)

The term 'paradox of the plenty' was coined to describe an often-found inverse relationship between royalty revenue and economic development. The main causal mechanism is thought to be a substitution effect whereby governments use royalty revenue to lower taxes instead of investing in activities that promote long-term economic growth. However, the occurrence of a 'natural resource curse' differs widely both for countries and subnational jurisdictions. Based on a dataset that traces 1,078 municipalities in Colombia from 2006 to 2017 and utilising a policy reform in 2012 that reduced royalty revenue for producer municipalities, we argue and find that municipal fiscal effort is higher when producer municipalities have more-efficient administrations. Our findings have important implications for the design of policy that allocates royalty revenue across subnational jurisdictions, in particular for developing countries where administrative efficiency tends to vary widely between local governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the high incidence of extreme events, it is important to examine how the occurrence of natural disasters influences long‐term sustainable development. We give evidence from the changing process of innovation. Using data from OECD countries from 1985 to 2018, we conclude that environmental threats from the occurrence of natural disasters drive countries to pay more attention to sustainable development and promote the change of innovation type from traditional to green innovation. Moreover, for different types of natural disasters, volcanic activities, landslides, and floods show a positive influence, while epidemics dampen it. Based on the sub‐sample analysis, this impact is more pronounced in countries with high levels of economic development, oil exports and right‐wing parties in power. Furthermore, renewable energy consumption acts as a positive moderator, while the moderating effects of government efficiency, corruption and globalization are inhibiting. Our paper provides new insights into natural disaster economics and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Educational & Behavioral Statistics has published a special section on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational statistics. The growth of AI tools and applications has led to increased interest in its role in educational measurement. Currently, there are no guidelines in place regarding the use of AI in educational measurement, but the Duolingo document titled "Responsible AI Standards" (RAIS) provides a foundation for revising existing standards. The special section includes articles by experts in testing, measurement, psychometrics, and statistics, which offer insights to inform future revisions to the standards and address topics such as construct misspecification, scale discordance, and score bias. [Extracted from the article]

Recognition of the key text of the Chinese seal can speed up the approval of documents, and improve the office efficiency of enterprises or government administrative departments. Due to image blurring and occlusion, the accuracy of Chinese seal recognition is low. In addition, the real dataset is very limited. In order to solve these problems, we improve the differentiable binarization detection algorithm (DBnet) to construct a model DB-ECA for text region detection, and propose a model named LSTR (Lightweight Seal Text Recognition) for text recognition. The efficient channel attention module is added to the differentiable binarization network to solve the feature pyramid conflict, and the convolutional layer network structure is improved to delay downsampling for reducing semantic feature loss. LSTR uses a lightweight CNN more suitable for small-sample generalization, and dynamically fuses positional and visual information through a self-attention-based inference layer to predict the label distribution of feature sequences in parallel. The inference layer not only solves the weak discriminative power of CNN in the shallow layer, but also facilitates CTC (Connectionist Temporal Classification) to accurately align the feature region with the target character. Experiments on the homemade dataset in this paper, DB-ECA compared with the other five commonly used detection models, the precision, recall, F-measure are the best effect of 90.29, 85.17, 87.65, respectively. LSTR compared with the other five kinds of recognition models in the last three years, to achieve the highest effect of accuracy 91.29%, and has the advantages of a small number of parameters and fast inference. The experimental results fully prove the innovation and effectiveness of our model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the adverse effects of climate change-induced frequent extreme disasters on agricultural production and supply stability, this study develops a comprehensive agricultural disaster prevention system based on current adaptation strategies for mitigating agricultural meteorological disasters. The primary goal is to enhance disaster preparedness and recovery through three core platforms: a fine-scale weather forecast service system, a crop disaster early warning system, and an agricultural information service platform for disasters. The results show that every major agricultural production township in Taiwan now has dedicated agricultural weather stations and access to refined weather forecasts. Additionally, a disaster prevention calendar for 76 important crops is established, integrating cultivation management practices and critical disaster thresholds for different growth periods. Utilizing this calendar, the crop disaster early warning system can provide timely disaster-related information and pre-disaster prevention assistance to farmers through various information dissemination tools. As a disaster approaches, the agricultural information service platform for disasters provides updates on current crop growth conditions. This service not only pinpoints areas at higher risk of disasters and vulnerable crop types but also offers mitigation suggestions to prevent potential damage. Administrative efficiency is then improved with a response mechanism incorporating drones and image analysis for early disaster detection and rapid response. In summary, the collaborative efforts outlined in this study demonstrate a proactive approach to agricultural disaster prevention. By leveraging technological advancements and interdisciplinary cooperation, the aim is to safeguard agricultural livelihoods and ensure food security in the face of climate-induced challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Set aside programs, which preference disadvantaged businesses, have long been among the largest government equity programs in the United States. Set asides ensure government revenues spur economic growth in firms and communities that have traditionally lacked representation in systems of power. However, there has been skepticism about whether set aside programs are compatible with the efficiency objectives of government contracting. Few empirical studies have assessed the comparative performance of small, disadvantaged businesses and other firms to determine if there are differences. Using contract level data from the Federal Procurement Data System: Next Generation, we test whether set aside contracts are associated with a reduction in the government's ability to secure "best value." We find few performance differences between small, disadvantaged businesses, and other vendors across a range of goods and services, suggesting mutual benefits and no outsized risks when governments engage in contracts with disadvantaged firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University 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.)

Purpose: This study examined how economic freedom and its related components, such as open markets, regulatory efficiency, rule of law and the size of government, affect bank risk behavior, focusing on the Japanese context. Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a two-step GMM framework on the annual data of Japanese banks ranging from 2005 to 2020 to empirically test the hypotheses. Furthermore, we also use the ordinary least square method to ensure the robustness of our mainline findings. Findings: The finding suggests that economic freedom increases the banks' risk-taking, thus making them fragile. The results also highlight that out of the four main subcomponents of economic freedom, regulatory efficiency and government size increase bank risk-taking, while the rule of law and open markets decrease banks' risk-taking. Additionally, we examine how the banks' specific characteristics affect the results by creating a subsample based on capitalization and liquidity ratios. Overall, the results are consistent with the baseline findings. Moreover, the results are robust to alternative proxy measures of risk. Practical implications: The study's findings have several implications for regulators and policymakers. The results suggest that regulators and policymakers should reconsider their strategies for economic freedom to ensure that they promote stability in the banking system and reduce banks' risk-taking inclinations. Originality/value: Although previous studies have examined the impact of economic freedom on bank stability and risk-taking, this study is the first to do so in the Japanese context, contributing to the literature by providing new insights and empirical evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how arts and arts‐based initiatives (ABIs) are embedded in a non‐arts organization with a pronounced imprint on efficiency. When two unconnected and distant fields of activity coexist and collaborate, this is known in academia as hybridity. Scholars in hybridity are interested in studying the tension that emerges from the blending of otherwise distant fields and the coping actions that give stability over time. Conversely, studies on ABIs have mostly overlooked the tension arising from the coupling of arts practices and efficiency practices viewed in a long‐term perspective. To address this issue, we conducted a process research study on a government agency with a strong efficiency mindset and a focus on standardized procedures which had decided to promote its arts collection. The analysis was based on semi‐structured interviews, participant observations, and archive data and focused on the tension and actions taken by the unit running the arts collection and the rest of the government agency. Our findings identified two types of actions, instant and enduring actions, which can be deployed with diverse temporality and by people with different hierarchical positions to navigate the tensions arising from art being incorporated within a non‐arts organization over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promotion of inclusive green growth is one of the most debated topics in international forums and is considered a major concern by all countries in the world. Although the existing literature has examined several determinants of inclusive green growth, the impact of environmental taxation on inclusive green growth is relatively little explored. This study is therefore the first attempt to examine the impact of the environmental tax on inclusive green growth for developing countries from 2000 to 2021. To do this, we apply the system generalised method of moments (GMM) that controls unobserved heterogeneity, heteroskedasticity, simultaneity, reverse causality and endogeneity. The empirical results show that environmental tax promotes inclusive green growth. In addition, our results indicate that the control of corruption, government efficiency, the quality of regulation and the rule of law interact with the environmental tax to promote inclusive green growth. Furthermore, this study reveals interestingly that the environmental tax has a positive impact on the two components of inclusive growth and green growth, but the institutional factors that accentuate the impact of the environmental tax are somewhat nuanced. The results of the study have important policy implications for decision-makers in developing countries in promoting inclusive and environmentally friendly growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A learning management system (LMS) is a web-based application or software platform computed to facilitate the development, tracking, management, reporting, and delivery of education and training programs. Many valuable and dominant factors are working behind the Learning Management System (LMS), but no one can find which factor is most important and valuable for LMS during COVID-19 among the following five alternatives, called Improved Accessibility, Blended Learning, Collaboration and Communications, Assessment and Evaluation, and Administrative Efficiency. For this, first, we derive the techniques of bipolar complex hesitant fuzzy (BCHF) sets, and then we evaluate some flexible operational laws, called Algebraic operational laws and Aczel-Alsina operational laws. Secondly, using the above techniques, we elaborate the technique of BCHF Aczel-Alsina power averaging (BCHFAAPA), BCHF Aczel-Alsina power weighted averaging (BCHFAAPWA), BCHF Aczel-Alsina power geometric (BCHFAAPG), and BCHF Aczel-Alsina power weighted geometric (BCHFAAPWG) operators. Some basic properties are also investigated for each proposed operator. Further, to evaluate the problem concerning LMS, we compute the multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) techniques for invented operators. Finally, we select some prevailing operators and try to compare their ranking results with our proposed results to enhance the worth and capability of the invented theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a contemporary network strategy utilized instead of a traditional network structure. It provides significantly more administrative efficiency and ease than traditional networks. However, the centralized control used in SDN entails an elevated risk of single-point failure that is more susceptible to different kinds of network assaults like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), DoS, spoofing, and API exploitation which are very complex to identify and mitigate. Thus, a powerful intrusion detection system (IDS) based on deep learning is created in this study for the detection and mitigation of network intrusions. This system contains several stages and begins with the data augmentation method named Deep Convolutional Generative Adversarial Networks (DCGAN) to over the data imbalance problem. Then, the features are extracted from the input data using a CenterNet-based approach. After extracting effective characteristics, ResNet152V2 with Slime Mold Algorithm (SMA) based deep learning is implemented to categorize the assaults in InSDN and Edge IIoT datasets. Once the network intrusion is detected, the proposed defense module is activated to restore regular network connectivity quickly. Finally, several experiments are carried out to validate the algorithm's robustness, and the outcomes reveal that the proposed system can successfully detect and mitigate network intrusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shift towards digitalization is fundamentally transforming societies and changing lives. Meanwhile, many African countries are lagging behind on the dividends of accelerated digital technologies to address their developmental challenges. This is partly because of the dearth of evidence demonstrating how technological integration impacts on economic growth and poverty reduction. By relying on panel data for the period 2011–2021, this study empirically estimates the degree to which ICT adoption contributes to South Africa's economic competitiveness along four indicators: boosting productivity, accelerating business growth, increasing government operational efficiency, and creating opportunities for people. The data were analyzed using multivariate regression analysis. The findings indicated a strong positive correlation between the application of digital technologies and the improvement of business operations welfare improvement, and GDP growth. The findings suggest to policymakers the need to prioritize interventions that drive investment in digital infrastructure. Given the net positive effects of ICT innovations, it is also recommended that policymakers focus on building the ICT skills of South Africans, while ensuring a business-friendly environment that enables fast digital penetration in the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Business Law Journal / Administração de Empresas em Revista is the property of Administracao de Empresas em Revista 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 Brazilian Journal of Law & International Relations / Relações Internacionais no Mundo is the property of Relacoes Internacionais no Mundo 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.)