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Community-based homestay (CBH) facilities were adversely affected by Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) despite its role in sustaining rural livelihood. This study aimed to assess the potential, challenges, and policies regarding domestic tourism in CBHs in COVID-19 era, focused on CBHs throughout Nepal. Seventy-seven online interviews were conducted on Facebook Messenger and ZOOM with 54 homestay owners, 12 coordinators, and 11 policymakers. The transcribed interview scripts were open-coded and thematically analyzed. CBHs initially prioritized domestic guests after seeing the high potential of domestic tourism during international travel restrictions. Domestic guests consider homestays as a learning center and a place to enjoy traditional food, culture, and hospitality. The number of guests traveling to CBHs decreased primarily due to COVID-19 and secondarily due to road problems, tourism attractions, and publicity issues. Policy measures to attract domestic guests by providing two-day weekend leave, official homestay visits of governmental employees, and other promotional offers are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the effects of different types of policy measures on poverty-stricken households' (PSHs') livelihood strategy transitions in China's targeted poverty alleviation (TPA) system. Considering the connection between TPA policy measures and PSHs' livelihood improvement, this paper identifies three types of policy measures, namely, safeguard-oriented, employment-oriented and ability-oriented policies. The data utilized in this paper were tracking data collected from 1298 PSHs in Southwest China in 2014 and 2020. A multinomial logit model was adopted to explore the effects of different types of policy measures on the trajectory of PSHs' livelihood strategy transitions. The results show that employment-oriented policies could effectively prompt the upwards movement of PSHs' livelihood strategies. Likewise, safeguard-oriented policies hinder the downwards movement of PSHs' livelihood strategies. However, due to the effectiveness and time effects of policies, ability-oriented policies offer only limited benefits for the movement of PSHs' livelihood strategies. These findings are valuable for other developing countries seeking to accelerate the progress of rural poverty reduction by providing targeted and effective policy measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livelihood diversification is a livelihood strategy commonly used by smallholders to cope with climate risk. However, despite the implementation of policy measures, there remains a research gap regarding whether smallholders will continue to adopt livelihood diversification strategies in response to climate risk. To fill this gap, this study used 1,193 smallholder questionnaires collected from the Hehuang Valley (HV) and Pumqu River Basin (PRB) on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), employing the Tobit model to examine the impact of policy measures on smallholder livelihood diversification. The results show that policy measures have had a negative impact on smallholder livelihood diversification and that government-constructed irrigation facilities and low-interest loans can effectively help smallholders cope with climate risk while reducing livelihood activity diversification, a conclusion that remains robust across different income groups. Furthermore, borrowing from relatives positively impacts smallholder livelihood diversification, whereas per capita arable land and altitude exert negative influences. In the HV, vehicles and leadership skills enhance diversification, whereas in the PRB, arable land per capita and distance to markets foster diversification, whereas distance to roads hampers diversification. The findings of this study highlight the importance of understanding the interactions between policy measures and smallholder adaptation strategies and providing valuable insights for policymakers in designing targeted interventions that promote rural development and support smallholders in adapting to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses how government popularity was shaped in the UK during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Using daily data for the Conservative party popularity rate, we find that their popularity was strongly dominated by factors related to the pandemic, more so by the political cases linked to its management and the measures that the government undertook than by the direct health impact of the coronavirus. The government stringency measures became more harmful for government popularity over time, especially when the pandemic metrics calmed down. The economy played a very marginal role in shaping government popularity during that period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus on environment and climate-friendly farming is increasingly important in the European Union (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Activities of the Measure M10 "Agri-environment and Climate" of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2020 were those policy instruments that pursued environmental and climate goals over large areas under agricultural activities, but their effectiveness is still being questioned. After evaluating implementation successes and failures of the activities of the Measure M10 "Agri-environment and Climate" of the Lithuanian RDP 2014–2020, we aim to contribute to policy instruments that are better designed, more effective, and more attractive for farmers to achieve environmental and climate goals. This research was conducted in several stages: (1) a thorough analysis of the Measure M10 and its implementation; (2) analysis of the Measure M10 activities' contribution to the policy target areas; (3) multi-criteria evaluation of the activities; (4) survey of beneficiaries and discussions in the focus groups. The data available from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Agricultural Data Center, and National Paying Agency under Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania was used for the analysis. Analysis of the strategic documents and data on the implementation of Measure M10 was supplemented with results from studies focused on the environmental impact of the implementation of Measure M10 in Lithuania. Multi-criteria evaluation methods were used to arrange the activities of the Measure with respect to the selected indicators. The results from the survey of beneficiaries and discussions in the focus groups let us better clarify the motives, experiences, and preferences of farmers' participation in the activities of Measure M10. The questionnaire was distributed to 2455 beneficiaries through the National Paying Agency and 342 answers were received back, i.e., 13.9%. Five discussions in focus groups, formed from farmers participating and not participating in the activities, representatives of implementing institutions, and employees of consulting and scientific institutions, were organized. The research has revealed areas for improvement in Measure M10, and suggestions for improvement were prepared to better achieve environmental and climate objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study comprehensively explores the intricate dynamics between Microfinance (MF) scheme implementation and socio-economic development through rigorous empirical analysis. The focal point is to provide a well-structured, stakeholder-specific mitigation plan, empowering microfinance institutions and customers for judicious investment planning, catalyzing socio-economic development and ensuring scheme implementation efficacy. Socioeconomic development is examined specifically through the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, a prominent microfinance scheme in India that encompasses financial inclusion, employment generation, women empowerment and sustainable development. Indicators within each domain are meticulously categorized into push and pull classes, influencing customer engagement with MF schemes. Noteworthy indicators exert forces that repel or attract customers, creating a nuanced understanding. The Microfinance Scheme Effectiveness Index, computed through fuzzy logic theory, facilitates empirical assessment across states, stratifying them into levels of effective scheme implementation. Addressing ineffectiveness requires bespoke, state-specific development plans, necessitating a multi-dimensional approach involving diverse stakeholders. The study advocates for policy interventions linked to pivotal aspects such as women's education, equal pay rights, start-up support, women representation promotion, customer training, awareness campaigns and enhanced governmental policies for structured customer involvement. In conclusion, despite robust planning systems, the effectiveness of scheme implementation faces challenges in a dynamic environment, requiring an iterative and adaptive monitoring approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to examine the impact of increasing energy costs on the global economy, social cohesion, economic growth, and capital markets, with a particular focus on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis intensified by the war in Ukraine. The methodology involves an extensive review of recent academic literature to cast light on these impacts. The study identifies significant disruptions in supply chains and heightened volatility in international capital markets due to these crises. Furthermore, the findings highlight the resulting challenges for policymakers, academics, market analysts, and professionals in addressing corporate sustainability in an increasingly uncertain environment. This paper underscores the continued relevance of energy issues as a central concern, both independently and in connection with broader economic sectors. Additionally, it discusses the importance of policy measures to enhance energy security and the transition towards sustainable energy solutions to mitigate these challenges and foster economic resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the socio-economy and changes in lifestyle， the nutrition and health conditions of residents in Guangdong Province have improved， and nutrition deficiency diseases have decreased significantly. However， issues such as an unbalanced dietary pattern and uneven nutrient intake are becoming increasingly apparent， and the rapid growth of chronic diseases related to nutrition and lifestyle behaviors is not being effectively controlled. This article reviews and summarizes the current state of dietary nutrition and disease prevention and control among residents in Guangdong Province， as well as domestic， international， and provincial policy measures addressing nutrition and related diseases. It will also propose recommendations and outlooks on the existing problems to further promote the progress of nutrition prevention and control work in Guangdong Province.

Copyright of Journal of Comparative Politics is the property of Journal of Comparative Politics 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.)

Human capital plays a vital role in poverty-stricken households' efforts to cope with external shocks. Improving the human capital of poverty-stricken households to help them address external shocks can enhance the sustainability of poverty-stricken household livelihoods and support poverty alleviation. In this study, households with dependent children and older members were selected from questionnaires covering 6,463 poverty-stricken households from 33 poverty alleviation districts and counties in Chongqing municipality, China. Multiple linear regression model and stepwise regression methods were then used to compare the effects of the number of household members supported and the number of those working on the increase in income among poverty-stricken and nonpoverty-stricken households. Finally, the correlations between policy measures, dependent household members and household labor were examined. The results show the following: (1) Policy measures can alleviate the negative impact of a household's dependent population on household income. (2) Poverty-stricken households' access to policy support is closely related to the characteristics of their human capital. The household's dependent members and laborers are effectively protected by safety net and cargo net policies. (3) Policy measures can mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the income of nonagricultural laborers while increasing the income of agricultural laborers. The findings show that the ability of poverty-stricken households to overcome poverty and deal with external shocks can be increased by revitalizing rural industries, linking the development of rural industries with the income of poverty-stricken households, and rationally using rural labor resources.

Alternative fuels of low or zero carbon content can decarbonise the shipping operations. This study aims at assessing the lifetime environmental-economic sustainability of ammonia and hydrogen, as alternatives to diesel fuel for short sea shipping cargo vessels. A model is employed to calculate key performance indicators representing the lifetime financial sustainability and environmental footprint of the case ship using a realistic operating profile and considering several scenarios with different diesel substitution rates. Scenarios meeting the carbon emissions reduction targets set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for 2030 are identified, whereas policy measures for their implementation including the emissions taxation are discussed. The derived results demonstrate that the future implementation of carbon emissions taxation in the ranges of 136–965 €/t for hydrogen and 356–2647 €/t for ammonia can support these fuels financial sustainability in shipping. This study provides insights for adopting zero-carbon fuels, and as such impacts the de-risking of shipping decarbonisation. [Display omitted] • Economic and environmental sustainability assessment of diesel fuel substitution. • Scenarios for addressing IMO decarbonisation targets with ammonia and hydrogen. • Hydrogen fuel prices below 700 €/t provide economic sustainability. • Carbon tax of 136 €/t for H 2 and 261 €/t for NH 3 is required to reach baseline NPV. • H 2 substitution scenarios over performs ammonia in economic sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public transportation is an important mode of transportation in developing countries like Pakistan since it is accessible and convenient. But there are also serious health hazards associated with it, especially when it comes to the transmission of infectious diseases including COVID-19, TB, and Haemophilus influenzae. Worldwide transportation systems are vulnerable, as the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, underscoring the necessity for study and mitigating measures. The danger of disease transmission is increased in Pakistan by crowded metropolitan areas, inadequate sanitation, and low health awareness. In addition, congested public transportation and inadequate ventilation lead to reduced air quality and elevated stress levels among commuters. Comprehensive actions are needed to address these health hazards, such as promoting physical distance, improving cleanliness, enforcing traffic safety laws, and implementing policy changes that support sustainable transportation. Community involvement and advocacy are critical in campaigning for safer and more sustainable transportation networks. Pakistan can enhance public health outcomes and reduce the health hazards linked to public transportation by giving priority to these measures.

The focus on environment and climate-friendly farming is increasingly important in the European Union (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Activities of the Measure M10 “Agri-environment and Climate” of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2020 were those policy instruments that pursued environmental and climate goals over large areas under agricultural activities, but their effectiveness is still being questioned. After evaluating implementation successes and failures of the activities of the Measure M10 “Agri-environment and Climate” of the Lithuanian RDP 2014–2020, we aim to contribute to policy instruments that are better designed, more effective, and more attractive for farmers to achieve environmental and climate goals. This research was conducted in several stages: (1) a thorough analysis of the Measure M10 and its implementation; (2) analysis of the Measure M10 activities’ contribution to the policy target areas; (3) multi-criteria evaluation of the activities; (4) survey of beneficiaries and discussions in the focus groups. The data available from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Agricultural Data Center, and National Paying Agency under Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania was used for the analysis. Analysis of the strategic documents and data on the implementation of Measure M10 was supplemented with results from studies focused on the environmental impact of the implementation of Measure M10 in Lithuania. Multi-criteria evaluation methods were used to arrange the activities of the Measure with respect to the selected indicators. The results from the survey of beneficiaries and discussions in the focus groups let us better clarify the motives, experiences, and preferences of farmers’ participation in the activities of Measure M10. The questionnaire was distributed to 2455 beneficiaries through the National Paying Agency and 342 answers were received back, i.e., 13.9%. Five discussions in focus groups, formed from farmers participating and not participating in the activities, representatives of implementing institutions, and employees of consulting and scientific institutions, were organized. The research has revealed areas for improvement in Measure M10, and suggestions for improvement were prepared to better achieve environmental and climate objectives.

This review aims to examine the impact of increasing energy costs on the global economy, social cohesion, economic growth, and capital markets, with a particular focus on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis intensified by the war in Ukraine. The methodology involves an extensive review of recent academic literature to cast light on these impacts. The study identifies significant disruptions in supply chains and heightened volatility in international capital markets due to these crises. Furthermore, the findings highlight the resulting challenges for policymakers, academics, market analysts, and professionals in addressing corporate sustainability in an increasingly uncertain environment. This paper underscores the continued relevance of energy issues as a central concern, both independently and in connection with broader economic sectors. Additionally, it discusses the importance of policy measures to enhance energy security and the transition towards sustainable energy solutions to mitigate these challenges and foster economic resilience.

Travel well-being is the subjective feeling of satisfaction that people have while traveling. Previous research focused on its determinants and relationships with subjective well-being ignored. But no quantitative study discusses the effect of characteristics like weekly income and travel time on travel well-being. To demonstrate the quantitative inflection of travel well-being from characteristics, the relevant factors influencing travel well-being as the dependent variable are identified using Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression in this paper. To overcome the limitations of linear regression techniques, ordered logistic regression is applied to establish an analytical model of travel well-being for predicting the response probabilities for different degrees based on combinations of explanatory variables. Both the linear regression and ordered logistic regression models are calibrated by American residents' travel datasets. The results illustrate that the ordered logistic model fits sample data better than linear regression models. Age, travel time, health status, and resting degree are significantly related to travel well-being. Older people and those who are healthier and better rested are more likely to experience higher levels of travel well-being. Additionally, increased travel time is associated with a significant decrease in travel well-being. Therefore, to enhance people's travel feelings, policymakers and urban planners can enhance the quality of public transportation services and provide diverse transportation options, while also logically constructing transportation hubs to provide more convenient travel plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At the beginning of 2020, Nigeria grappled with a severe outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This deadly disease significantly impacted various aspects of the country’s economy, leading to socio-economic challenges primarily attributed to daily increases in reported cases and the subsequent enforcement of lockdown measures. Gwagwalada Area Council in Abuja, Nigeria, was not exempt from the devastating consequences of this epidemic, particularly concerning income generation and food access for its residents. Although several studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 on Nigerian workers, little information exists regarding the differing effects on formal and informal sector workers. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the disparities in the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic’s lockdown on household income generation and food consumption among formal and informal sector workers in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive survey design was employed for this study. Three hundred and thirty-two completed questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, which included simple percentages and means and independent sample t-tests. Results: A significant difference was revealed in the impact of the lockdown between formal and informal sector workers (p

Abstract Purpose We examined health trajectories of Dutch older workers across their exit from the workforce in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, testing the hypothesis that pre-post-exit health trajectories of workers with favourable and unfavourable working conditions increasingly diverged over time due to policy measures to extend working life. Methods The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam includes baseline samples in 1992/1993, 2002/2003 and 2012/2013 with two 3-year follow-up waves each. Selected respondents were aged 55 years and over who exited from a paid job within the first or second 3-year interval, up to and including the statutory retirement age (N = 522). Pre-post-exit trajectories were modelled using Generalized Estimating Equations with outcomes self-rated health and physical limitations and determinants physical demands, psychosocial demands, and psychosocial resources. Results Average work exit age rose from 60.7 in the 1990s to 62.9 in the 2010s. On average, self-rated health decreased somewhat over successive periods and did not show pre-post-exit change; average physical limitations increased substantially both over successive periods and from pre- to post-exit. No support is found for our hypothesis. However, regardless of work exposures, we found sharp pre-post-exit increases in physical limitations in the 2010s. Conclusion Although these findings provide no support for our hypothesis of diverging health trajectories over time based on work exposure, they show that exiting at a higher age is linked to poorer pre- and post-exit health and to pre-post-exit increases in physical limitations, suggesting greater health care costs in the near future.

Research background: The European Green deal set by the European Commission has launched new business models in sustainable development. Major contributions are expected in the road transport sector; as far as conventional internal combustion creates significant input in Green House Gas emission inventories. Each EU member state has an obligation to reduce GhG emission by accelerating Electric Vehicle development. In order to foster growth of EVs, there is the need of significant investment into charging infrastructures. The article propose the model of forecasting of investment based on the forecast of the growth of the amount of electric vehicles and their demand on energy. The model includes the behaviouristic approach based on the total cost of ownership model as well as calculations of efficient usage of EV charging points. The model takes into account all types of vehicles including personal and commercial, freight and passenger.

Background: At the beginning of 2020, Nigeria grappled with a severe outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This deadly disease significantly impacted various aspects of the country's economy, leading to socio-economic challenges primarily attributed to daily increases in reported cases and the subsequent enforcement of lockdown measures. Gwagwalada Area Council in Abuja, Nigeria, was not exempt from the devastating consequences of this epidemic, particularly concerning income generation and food access for its residents. Although several studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 on Nigerian workers, little information exists regarding the differing effects on formal and informal sector workers. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the disparities in the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic's lockdown on household income generation and food consumption among formal and informal sector workers in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive survey design was employed for this study. Three hundred and thirty-two completed questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, which included simple percentages and means and independent sample t-tests. Results: A significant difference was revealed in the impact of the lockdown between formal and informal sector workers (p <0.001). The lockdown impacted substantially on the informal sector workers more than the formal sector counterparts. Conclusion: The study found that informal sector workers suffered a greater negative impact from the COVID-19 lockdown in Gwagwalada compared to formal sector workers. Therefore, it is recommended that the government provide substantial loans and grants with low or no interest rates to support informal sector business owners, mitigating the effects of the COVID lockdown and creating job opportunities for those affected by the government's lockdown measures. Additionally, introducing price control mechanisms to ensure affordable food prices is essential, even after the conclusion of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is some scientific evidence that work time reductions (WTRs) have beneficial ecological, social, and economic effects that could contribute to a transition to a post-growth society. However, little research has been conducted on whether the occurrence of such desired effects is acknowledged: Do they form part of the public debate and is there any public support for WTRs? We conducted a two-round survey among Swiss stakeholder groups (N = 51/28) to identify what effects they believe WTRs have, and what measures to implement WTRs they would be most likely to support. Stakeholders perceived WTRs to have several beneficial social and economic effects, including effects that are relevant for a transition to a post-growth society. However, they did not assume that ecological effects occur. Measures voluntarily implemented on an organisational level by businesses were more popular than those implemented on a national policy or social partnership level. Certain incremental measures and/or those that are merely conducive to WTRs were uncontested. Other more direct and extensive measures were predominantly supported, but not uncontested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the factors that influence residents' waste separation intention (WSI) and the interaction mechanism among different influencing factors, a conceptual model based on the incentive and constraint mechanism was constructed , and six hypotheses were proposed. Partial least square (PLS) was then used to analyse the data from 323 survey samples. The findings indicate that material incentive policy measures (MIPM), spiritual incentive policy measures (SIPM) and binding policy measures (BPM) are positively correlated with WSI. Of these, BPM exert the most significant influence on WSI. The findings also indicate that personal norms (PN) plays a moderating role in the relationship between BPM and WSI. These results can help decision-makers to take effective action to improve WSI among urban residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate changes and the need for transition to a low-carbon future have emerged as one of the most critical challenges of contemporary society, and decisions made by homeowners about major energy relevant renovations are essential as part of reaching climate goals. However, the installation of energy efficiency measures is still not widespread and needs to be stimulated to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. This article provides insights into renovation processes by Danish homeowners currently being in the process of renovating their homes. Data were collected through 19 explorative qualitative interviews in the informants’ homes. By using practice theory as an analytical framework, we seek to broaden the traditional policy approach of rational actors by contributing with a broader and more context-rich understanding of homeowners’ renovation processes and how, or not, energy renovation is part of such processes. The results show that home renovation is a dynamic process that is not always carefully planned or intended, but rather evolves as technologies, know-how, and meanings develop and change. Specific challenges for energy renovation are identified concerning its perceived benefits, complexities, policy conditions, and associated meanings. The challenges of energy renovation are researched in context of other types of home renovations that are often implemented at the same time, but which differ fundamentally. Based on systematic evidence of the challenges and implementation context of energy renovation, recommendations for initiatives relevant to stimulate in policy and marketing are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using monthly firm-level survey data, this study examines the effects of the three major government support measures on labour costs of Japanese SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy measures were useful for supporting troubled SMEs to mitigate the effects of the economic downturn. However, they may have supported not just otherwise viable corporations, but also unprofitable but still operating corporations – often referred to as 'zombies'. Our empirical results suggest that policy measures have heterogeneous effects on corporate activities. 'Employment adjustment subsidies' and 'COVID19 subsidies' had persistently mitigated the decline of labour costs, suggesting that employment and wage adjustments might have been inappropriate for improving labour productivity. On the other hand, 'funding supports' by banks, which were accompanied by the obligation to repay the principal in the future, had a negative and persistent impact on labour costs. The results suggest that, unlike the other support measures, funding supports were policies that may have improved labour productivity by reducing labour costs during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Language Problems & Language Planning is the property of John Benjamins Publishing Co. 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.)

Natural resource extraction and processing accounted for 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2015. Therefore, reducing resource use through resource efficiency promises significant contributions to climate protection. This “climate-resource-nexus” has mostly been explored from a scientific, Global North-oriented perspective. The present study analysed potential interactions between climate and resource policy through literature review and exploratory interviews with experts from different world regions. It did not find a generic climate-resource-nexus policy. Scientific studies mostly address greenhouse gas emission reduction potentials of resource efficiency approaches, e.g. lifetime extension, material substitution, and recycling. Interview findings reveal that climate and resource policy measures will have to differ regionally to improve relevance and fit, and that silo culture may prevent an integrated climate-resource-nexus perspective. It is argued that creating an overarching line of policy reasoning through cross-departmental cooperation could help overcoming silos and grant flexibility to national and regional policy-making to adapt policies to their contexts.

This work contributes to disaster research by exploring the impact on new firm creation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pandemic-related policies. We develop hypotheses on the individual and combined effects of pandemic severity and public policies aimed at controlling the spread of the disease (shutdown policies) or protecting the economy from its negative consequences (demand stimulus and firm support policies). Then, we test these hypotheses using data on Italy in the first and second 2020 pandemic waves. Results show that pandemic severity negatively affected new firm creation during the first wave. Shutdown policies had negative effects too, especially in the regions where the pandemic was less severe. The effects of demand stimulus policies were positive and stronger the less severe the pandemic was while the impact of firm support policies was negative in the regions where the pandemic was more severe. All these effects vanished in the second wave. Plain English Summary: Disasters cause slowdowns in new firm creation that disaster recovery policies may aggravate or alleviate. Our analysis of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy reveals that this major disaster resulted in a large drop in new firm creation rates. During the first pandemic wave, the drop was concentrated in the regions where the pandemic was more severe. Examining the effects of the shutdown policies implemented to contain the spread of the disease and the measures designed to protect the economy provides useful guidelines for policymakers. First, we show that shutdown policies inhibit new firm creation. Policymakers can however alleviate this negative effect by implementing less strict measures in the areas not severely affected by the disaster. Second, despite we understand that policymakers need to provide relief to existing firms in the most affected industries to avoid business failures, we indicate they should simultaneously invest in stimulating demand in these industries to sustain also new firm creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Service Industries Journal is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

SMEs constitute the backbone of the Syrian economy and have suffered manifold challenges due to the continuous Syrian war. COVID-19 added further pressures on Syrian SMEs and forced them to take certain adaptation strategies to survive. This paper aims to investigate the main challenges that face Syrian SMEs during the pandemic and illustrate how they respond to adversities that emerged from governmental intervention to control the spread of the virus. It also discusses the measures initiated by the government to support SMEs during the pandemic. Through interviewing persons from the Syrian SMEs' ecosystem, we find that high interest rates on SMEs' loans decline on demand as well as high inflation represent the main challenges. SMEs respond to these challenges by marketing products online, stock procurement, and strengthening connections with stakeholders. We recommend the Syrian authorities reduce lending rates and increase loan sizes available to SMEs to help them overcome the pandemic adversities. Innovative sources of funding, such as venture capital and equity partnerships, could reduce the funding costs of SMEs. Moreover, SMEs will immensely benefit from training in digital tools to enhance their expansion and survival opportunities. Furthermore, bazaars should be organized during the year to give SMEs the opportunity to gain continuous access to markets. In addition, incubation services should be revised, particularly to SMEs with great potential to grow, to create the suitable environment for them to scale and flourish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We examined health trajectories of Dutch older workers across their exit from the workforce in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, testing the hypothesis that pre-post-exit health trajectories of workers with favourable and unfavourable working conditions increasingly diverged over time due to policy measures to extend working life. Methods: The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam includes baseline samples in 1992/1993, 2002/2003 and 2012/2013 with two 3-year follow-up waves each. Selected respondents were aged 55 years and over who exited from a paid job within the first or second 3-year interval, up to and including the statutory retirement age (N = 522). Pre-post-exit trajectories were modelled using Generalized Estimating Equations with outcomes self-rated health and physical limitations and determinants physical demands, psychosocial demands, and psychosocial resources. Results: Average work exit age rose from 60.7 in the 1990s to 62.9 in the 2010s. On average, self-rated health decreased somewhat over successive periods and did not show pre-post-exit change; average physical limitations increased substantially both over successive periods and from pre- to post-exit. No support is found for our hypothesis. However, regardless of work exposures, we found sharp pre-post-exit increases in physical limitations in the 2010s. Conclusion: Although these findings provide no support for our hypothesis of diverging health trajectories over time based on work exposure, they show that exiting at a higher age is linked to poorer pre- and post-exit health and to pre-post-exit increases in physical limitations, suggesting greater health care costs in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of sustainability, oil palm frond (OPF) is emerging as an important renewable resource in Malaysia's thriving palm oil industry, presenting both opportunities and challenges. This review presents an in-depth assessment of the current landscape of the Malaysian palm oil industry, emphasizing the abundance of OPF, logistical difficulties, and current and future potential industrial uses. Amidst the industry's phenomenal expansion, the generation of OPF was estimated at 59.3 and 156.5 million tonnes in 2023 from Malaysia and Indonesia, respectively. Implementing existing and new policies can fully capitalize on the socioeconomic and ecological benefits of integrating OPF into the palm oil supply chain. This offers several advantages, including economic growth, environmental and sustainability practices, resource optimization, support for innovation and commercialization, energy diversification, and investment attraction. The future of OPF utilization in Malaysia lies in developing more valuable applications and improving integrated biomass techniques. Emerging technologies like enzymatic hydrolysis, lignocellulosic fractionation, biosugars, bioethanol, ruminant feed, and biochar production offer great potential to unlock OPF's full benefits. However, technological hurdles and limited industrial implementation continue to hamper the widespread adoption of these innovative solutions. Future research for enhancing the efficiency of conversion processes, evaluating the economic viability of OPF-based products, and investigating the environmental impacts of OPF valorization would be crucial in unlocking the full potential of this abundant and promising biomass resource. • Increasing trends oil palm frond (OPF) production and the need for sustainable management. • Challenges in the palm oil biomass sector, focusing on reliable supply chains, transportation, and environmental impacts. • Alternative uses of OPF, such as animal feed, pulp processing, biochar, bioethanol, and biomass energy. • Factors contributing to the persistence of traditional harvesting methods and the need for modern technology integration. • The impact of policy frameworks on OPF utilization and management, to maximize sustainability and socioeconomic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian Industry is gearing up to leverage hydrogen's potential as an alternative to fossil fuels. This paper answers three related questions that would help scale green hydrogen in Indian industry vital for sustainable development. First, is there an economic case for green hydrogen production in terms of cost-competitiveness compared to other hydrogen production sources i.e., coal and natural gas? Second, what is the cheapest way to subsidize green hydrogen? Third, how policies and frameworks can be designed to produce and procure green hydrogen at scale? Key findings include. First, at present, the levelized cost of green hydrogen is USD 4.45/Kg, which reduces to USD 3.26/Kg by 2025 and USD 2.45/Kg by 2030. The present cost of green hydrogen is nearly twice that of hydrogen produced from coal and about four times that of hydrogen produced from natural gas. In the absence of policy support, green hydrogen may become competitive in India only after 2030. Second, upfront Capital expenditure subsidy is the most suited cost-effective policy option with partial viability gap coverage, and its combination with Generation based incentive for 100 % coverage. Third, subsidies need to be complemented with deployment-based policies such as hydrogen portfolio standard (HPS) for scale adoption of green hydrogen in Indian industry. • We evaluate the cost competitiveness of green hydrogen over other existing sources in India. • Based on LCOH Green hydrogen becomes competitive only after 2030 in India. • First study to evaluate cost effective subsidy options for scaling green hydrogen in Indian industry. • CAPEX subsidy most suited cost-effective subsidy policy for partial coverage and CAPEX Subsidy with GBI most cost-effective subsidy for full coverage • First study to suggest hydrogen portfolio standard (HPS) akin to renewable portfolio standard (RPS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented healthcare and economic resilience challenges for the world. This study systematizes the policy measures taken by the Visegrad Group and Ukraine to support national economies in response to the pandemic. The paper is based on a grouping method to systematize the policy measures, and a tabular method to present the results of the policy measures classification. Following systematization results, the policy measures for ensuring the economic resilience under the pandemic are classified as quarantine and compensatory measures. Additionally, quarantine measures were classified into prohibitions, restrictions, and recommendations. Compensatory measures were classified by the type of policy and grouped according to the global dimension in periodization of the COVID-19 waves. The analysis of quarantine measures in Ukraine and Visegrad Group also shows that prohibitions had been used most frequently and for the longest time in Ukraine, particularly they included school closures, public transport closing, and restrictions on internal movement. Meanwhile, fiscal, macroprudential, and microprudential measures prevailed among the compensatory measures. Simultaneously, 38% of all fiscal measures were direct grants to households and enterprises. The largest number of various measures (78) were implemented in Poland, linking quarantine and compensatory measures. The least compensatory measures were implemented in Ukraine (19) and Slovakia (15). Overall, policy measures helped to avoid a worse scenario of pandemic impact but did not help to overcome the effects of the pandemic fully.

The fate of plastics and packaging are intimately connected; plastics revolutionised the world of packaging, and today, packaging is plastics' biggest market. However, as awareness of plastics' negative human and environmental impacts grows, policymakers, civil society and industry are seeking alternatives to plastic packaging as a pathway to reducing plastics production, waste and pollution. The shortcomings of recycling, lightweighting and material substitution strategies has turned attention to source reduction strategies up the waste hierarchy. These strategies transform products, business models and supply chains to prevent packaging altogether or accommodate reusable packaging systems. As these are radical changes from business-as-usual, widespread industry uptake has not been forthcoming. This review highlights three categories of current and potential approaches to incentivising businesses to adopt plastic-free packaging systems based on reduction and reuse: persuasion, legislation and enabling measures. Predominant persuasive approaches based on voluntarism are not delivering desired results under current policy settings and could be more successful if combined with legislative reform to level the economic playing field between single-use and reuse. Additionally, enabling measures that fill practical and infrastructural system-level gaps could help to accelerate and coordinate uptake of effective and efficient unpackaged or reusable packaging systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The policy approach in Pakistan with regard to combating the informal economy has remained quite myopic and skewed in its reliance on measures informed by the rational economic-actor theory as opposed to the social-actor approach. Thus, this study attempts to evaluate and synthesise the two alternative policy approaches and formulate a more theoretically integrative understanding of the subject. Design/methodology/approach: The authors gather data from 600 micro-entrepreneurs operating in the retail and wholesale sector of Lahore, Pakistan, which is then analysed using an ordered logit regression technique. Findings: In contrast to more developed countries, the finding here is that higher perceived penalties have a highly significant and positive impact on the level of formality of Pakistani micro-entrepreneurs. The perceived risk of detection, meanwhile, has only a moderately significant impact on the micro-entrepreneurs level of formality. Likewise, the level of vertical and horizontal trust has a positive but moderately significant impact on the level of formality. Nonetheless, both the vertical and horizontal trust exhibit a very significant moderating effect on the relationship between the use of penalties and the level of formality, that is, the higher the level of trust that the micro-entrepreneurs have in the state and other businesses, the lower is the effectiveness of punitive measures. Practical implications: Deterrence is an effective way to enhance the level of formality in the case of the Pakistani context. Nonetheless, the authors imply that without building trust, this overreliance on punitive and detective measures can actually be counter-productive. A combined and congruent (not sequential) use of voluntary compliance measures is thus warranted. Originality/value: It is a unique attempt to evaluate and synthesise the global policy theorisations in a non-mainstream and antagonistic climate, such as Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking domestic coal mine accidents from 2005 to 2019 as the research object, the number of accidents and the change trend of death toll were analyzed in terms of the number, type, regional characteristics, production background, policy support, technological change and other influencing factors. The results show that the overall situation of safety production has been improving year by year in recent 15 years, showing a continuous downward trend from 2005 to 2010, a fluctuating trend from 2011 to 2013, and a stable trend from 2014 to 2019. According to the trend of major and above accidents, the work safety situation in the past 15 years can be divided into five stages. The period from 2017 to 2019 is the fifth stage, and especially since late October 2019, the safety situation has taken a sharp turn for the worse. Intensify backward capacity elimination, form effective reversed transmission mechanism is the foundation, insist on the source of disaster management, improve the barriers to entry, and improve the mechanism of risk potential dual dependency, law enforcement team of high quality, clear safety regulatory body is fundamental. The key is to break through the weak links of “one ventilation and three prevention” and form the development of “four and equal emphasis”, while the power and gas disaster prevention are the key points.

The fate of plastics and packaging are intimately connected; plastics revolutionised the world of packaging, and today, packaging is plastics’ biggest market. However, as awareness of plastics’ negative human and environmental impacts grows, policymakers, civil society and industry are seeking alternatives to plastic packaging as a pathway to reducing plastics production, waste and pollution. The shortcomings of recycling, lightweighting and material substitution strategies has turned attention to source reduction strategies up the waste hierarchy. These strategies transform products, business models and supply chains to prevent packaging altogether or accommodate reusable packaging systems. As these are radical changes from business-as-usual, widespread industry uptake has not been forthcoming. This review highlights three categories of current and potential approaches to incentivising businesses to adopt plastic-free packaging systems based on reduction and reuse: persuasion, legislation and enabling measures. Predominant persuasive approaches based on voluntarism are not delivering desired results under current policy settings and could be more successful if combined with legislative reform to level the economic playing field between single-use and reuse. Additionally, enabling measures that fill practical and infrastructural system-level gaps could help to accelerate and coordinate uptake of effective and efficient unpackaged or reusable packaging systems.

As the largest developing country, China has recognized the importance of low carbon cities. To date, three batches of low-carbon pilot provinces and cities were presented by the Chinese government from 2010 to 2017. Therefore, the local governments in the pilot group should take effective measures to promote the development of low-carbon cities. However, because of the lack of experience in implementing special policies for low-carbon cities, many local governments have encountered difficulties in promoting the development of low-carbon cities. This study critically analysed various policies promulgated during 2010–2021 by the Chinese local governments. The most relevant programming policies of pilot cities were selected. A multidimensional framework is developed to better understand the policies in facilitating low-carbon city development in China. The results showed that there are 16 factors at both the macro level and the micro level that affect the development of Chinese low-carbon pilot cities. The successful promotion of China’s low-carbon cities requires combined efforts from all related stakeholders. In addition, the development of pilot cities is actively promoted by the Chinese national government and linked to other strategic initiatives, such as “peak carbon” by 2030 and “carbon neutral” by 2060. The findings help to better understand the landscape of policy measures of low-carbon city development in China and provide useful references for policy making in other countries.

The coordination of policy measures and objectives can boost the effects of policy implementation. This paper collects the policies of general project contracts released in China from 2010 to 2021, quantifying the policies from dimensions of policy strength, measures, and objectives. It analyzes the coordination evolution of policy objectives and policy measures by a coordination measurement model. The results show that coordinating various policy objectives and measures shows an increasing trend. However, there is still an imbalance in policy usage. The results suggest emphasizing the support of fiscal and financial policy measures, strengthening the promotion of the construction industry's modernization, accelerating international integration, and combining other policy measures and policy objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of transnational families is a topical issue on the European Union's family policy agenda, especially in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Europe 2020 Strategy. Romania, not only as a member state of the European Union, but also as a country directly affected by the scale of this phenomenon, must include in the public family policy the issue of transnational families and provide solutions for these families. Starting from the identification of the risk factors faced by children whose parents are working abroad, the article proposes a critical analysis of existing programs and measures in national legislation aimed at preventing and combating the social exclusion of Romanian children from transnational families. The results of the SWOT analysis carried out indicate a number of shortcomings in covering the risk situations of these vulnerable children, the access to education and a good start in the life of these children being quite affected. The obtained results have implications at the level of decision-makers, helping to improve the efficiency of measures and programs for the left behind children and transnational Romanian families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]