Public Policy Analysis

The global financial crisis, brewing for a while, really started to show its effects in the middle of 2007 and into 2008. Around the world, stock markets have fallen, large financial institutions have collapsed or been bought-over and government in even the wealthiest nations (such as The United States of America, Britain, China, and Japan) have had to come up with rescue packages to bail out their fin ancial systems. On the one hand, many people are concerned that those responsible for the financial problems are the ones being bailed out, while, on the other hand, a global financial meltdown will affect the livelihood of almost everyone in an increasingly inter-connected world because of globalization and information and communication technology. The problem could have been avoided, if ideologues supporting the current economics models were not so vocal, influential and inconsiderate of others' viewpoints and concerns. Our concern, therefore, is that all these events will considerably affect development, especially in the third world nations. No doubt, the implications of all this for the political, socio-economic, democratic and sustainable development in Nigeria are monumentally obvious considering the nature of state formation in Africa, unemployment, insecurity, low political culture, socialization and corruption. This study provides an overview of the crisis with links for further or more detailed coverage, and at the end, makes some recommendations while adopting the structural-functional approach.

For three decades new social movements have undergone scrutiny from political scientists with much written about why social movements exist and how they attract members. However little has been done on the influence of these mass mobilisations. In this paper I ...

Purpose -This study attempts to investigate customer experience with respect to the bancassurance channel. Design/Methodology/Approach -The study is based on primary data collected using a structured questionnaire from customers buying life insurance policies from SBI Life through diff erent branches of State Bank of India in the city of Guwahati in the state of Assam, India. Cronbach's alpha was used to test the reliability of the questionnaire. Statistical tools, such as mean, standard deviation, and factor analysis were used to attain the objective of the study. Findings and implications -The study found that customers have favorable experiences when buying life insurance through the bancassurance cha nnel. There are seven core factors that aff ect customer experience in bancassurance: ease of buying, whether maturity benefi t is received, reliability of the channel, responsiveness of the channel, after-sale services, stock market-related information, and accuracy of the channel. Banks should devise a strategy to sustain favorable experiences of their customers, as this enables banks to retain their existing customers while also attracting new ones. Limitations -The study is restricted to customers buying life insurance policy from various branches of State Sažetak Svrha -Studija istražuje iskustvo korisnika pri kupovini police osiguranja u banci (usluga bankoosiguranja) kao prodajnom kanalu. Metodološki pristup -Istraživanje se temelji na primarnim podacima prikupljenim korištenjem strukturiranog anketnog upitnika na uzorku korisnika koji kupuju SBI policu životnog osiguranja u različitim podružnicama banke State Bank of India u gradu Guwahati, savezna država Assam u Indiji. Pouzdanost anketnoga upitnika testirana je koefi cijentom Cronbach alfa. Statističke mjere srednje vrijednosti i standardne devijacije te faktorska analiza korištene su da bi se ostvario cilj istraživanja. Rezultati i implikacije -Istraživanje otkriva da korisnici imaju pozitivno iskustvo u kupovini police životnog osiguranja u banci kao kanalu prodaje. Utvrđeno je sedam glavnih čimbenika koji utječu na iskustvo korisnika pri kupovini osiguranja u banci kao kanalu prodaje, a to su: jednostavnost kupovine, dobivanje povlastica vezano uz dospijeće police, pouzdanost kanala, odgovornost kanala, poslijekupovne usluge, informacije o radu burzi te preciznost kanala. Banka bi trebala osmisliti strategiju održivosti pozitivnog iskustva korisnika jer će joj to omogućiti zadržavanje postojećih i privlačenje novih korisnika.

Purpose – This study attempts to investigate customer experience with respect to the bancassurance channel. Design/Methodology/Approach – The study is based on primary data collected using a structured questionnaire from customers buying life insurance policies from SBI Life through different branches of State Bank of India in the city of Guwahati in the state of Assam, India. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test the reliability of the questionnaire. Statistical tools, such as mean, standard deviation, and factor analysis were used to attain the objective of the study. Findings and implications – The study found that customers have favorable experiences when buying life insurance through the bancassurance channel. There are seven core factors that affect customer experience in bancassurance: ease of buying, whether maturity benefit is received, reliability of the channel, responsiveness of the channel, after-sale services, stock market-related information, and accuracy of the channel. ...

This paper focuses the role of neopatrimonialism in Nigeria’s elections and the challenge of National security in contemporary Nigerian society: an appraisal. Data were collected through secondary sources and analyzed using qualitative technique. Among the findings, the loss of legitimacy in Nigeria’s elections since 1999 was because godfathers have turned elections into a ‘do or die affair’ through the brandishing all kinds of weapons. Also, election periods are now wrought with fear, anxiety and desperation. In addition, Nigerian electorates are now see elections as meaningless, ineffective, and inconsequential political rituals aimed at instilling bad governance. The study also notes (that) the competitions among godfathers to control state resources through the imposition of candidates have defeated the purpose for good governance. Finally, the upsurge of political assassinations, organized kidnapping, and other evils leading to a huge number of senseless killings, displacement ...

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index to support local elective surgical system strengthening and address growing backlogs. Methods First, we performed an international consultation through a four-stage consensus process to develop a multidomain index for hospital-level assessment (surgical preparedness index; SPI). Second, we measured surgical preparedness across a global network of hospitals in high-income countries (HICs), middle-income countries (MICs), and low-income countries (LICs) to explore the distribution of the SPI at national, subnational, and hospital levels. Finally, using COVID-19 as an example of an external system shock, we compared hospitals' SPI to their planned surgical volume ratio (SVR; ie, operations for which the decision for surgery was made before hospital admission), calculated as the ratio of the observed surgical volume over a 1-month assessment period between June 6 and Aug 5, 2021, against the expected surgical volume based on hospital administrative data from the same period in 2019 (ie, a pre-pandemic baseline). A linear mixed-effects regression model was used to determine the effect of increasing SPI score. In the first phase, from a longlist of 103 candidate indicators, 23 were prioritised as core indicators of elective surgical system preparedness by 69 clinicians (23 [33%] women; 46 [67%] men; 41 from HICs, 22 from MICs, and six from LICs) from 32 countries. The multidomain SPI included 11 indicators on facilities and consumables, two on staffing, two on prioritisation, and eight on systems. Hospitals were scored from 23 (least prepared) to 115 points (most prepared). In the second phase, surgical preparedness was measured in 1632 hospitals by 4714 clinicians from 119 countries. 745 (45•6%) of 1632 hospitals were in MICs or LICs. The mean SPI score was 84•5 (95% CI 84•1-84•9), which varied between HIC (88•5 [89•0-88•0]), MIC (81•8 [82•5-81•1]), and LIC (66•8 [64•9-68•7]) settings. In the third phase, 1217 (74•6%) hospitals did not maintain their expected SVR during the COVID-19 pandemic, of which 625 (51•4%) were from HIC, 538 (44•2%) from MIC, and 54 (4•4%) from LIC settings. In the mixed-effects model, a 10-point increase in SPI corresponded to a 3•6% (95% CI 3•0-4•1; p<0•0001) increase in SVR. This was consistent in HIC (4•8% [4•1-5•5]; p<0•0001), MIC (2•8 [2•0-3•7]; p<0•0001), and LIC (3•8 [1•3-6•7%]; p<0•0001) settings. Interpretation The SPI contains 23 indicators that are globally applicable, relevant across different system stressors, vary at a subnational level, and are collectable by front-line teams. In the case study of COVID-19, a higher SPI was associated with an increased planned surgical volume ratio independent of country income status, COVID-19 burden, and hospital type. Hospitals should perform annual self-assessment of their surgical preparedness to identify areas that can be improved, create resilience in local surgical systems, and upscale capacity to address elective surgery backlogs.

The High Court of Kenya recently handed down a decision that reinforces the role of courts to protect the constitution against executive overreaches. To constitutional lawyers and academics, the decision is a triumph for constitutionalism and the rule of law. In this piece, we discuss lessons that may be drawn from the decision for constitutional consolidation (or amendment) and the role of courts in South Sudan. One lesson is that courts, as custodians of the constitution, must be on guard at all times to ensure the Executive implements the constitution in accordance with its terms, including constitutional amendments. This requires courts' courage

Este artigo propõe uma nova forma de avaliar a educação pública, utilizando o método de análise envoltória de dados o Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) e empregando uma ampla base de provas disponibilizada pelo Sistema Mineiro de Avaliação da Educação Pública ...

Esse artigo trata-se de uma pesquisa que vem sendo realizada desde julho/2004 e que está elaborando o mapeamento, reconhecimento e conhecimento das políticas sociais criadas para atender as demandas das famílias no Brasil. Na sua execução a pesquisa destacou os focos, as prioridades, as concepções de família, características, impacto, abrangência e eficácia das políticas direcionadas à família. A pesquisa evidenciou que muitas das políticas dirigidas à família caracterizam-se por utilizar a lógica da culpabilização, do aprisionamento dos membros recorrendo a medidas punitivas, disciplinadoras, moralizadoras e menos que educativas.

Bölgesel yönetişim (territorialgovernance), 2000&#39;li yılların başında AB’de bölgesel uyum ve bütünleşme söylemleriyle beraber ortaya çıkmış ve AB&#39;nin yeni mekânsal politikasının bir parçası haline gelmiştir (Faludi, 2006; 2012). Yerel, bölgesel, ulusal ve uluslararası düzeyindeki yetki alanlarının yönetimi diye açıkladığımız bölgesel yönetişim, aslında kademeli bir model değildir (Lidström, 2007). Aktörler arasındaki dikey ve yatay koordinasyondur (Davoudi vd., 2008). Sivil toplumun katılımını, örgütlenmiş çıkar gruplarının ve ortak girişimlerin açıklık ve şeffaflık içinde süreçte yer almalarını içerir. Bölgesel yönetişimi diğer yönetim modellerinden farklılaştıran özelliklerini Stead (2014) bölgesel dinamiklerin yönetilmesi, bölgesel etkilerin değerlendirilmesi ve politika sınırlarının belirlenmesi olarak sıralamıştır. Ancak yönetişimin bölgeselliği her durumda içerdiğini ve farklılaştırmaya gerek olmadığını bazı araştırmacılar vurgulamıştır. Örneğin, Faludi (2012) çok-katma...

6-7 Şubat 2025 tarihleri arasında Belçika’da Ghent Üniversitesi’nde düzenlenen Hollanda’nın ulusal kamu yönetimi kongresi diyebileceğimiz NIG (Netherlands Institute of Governance) 2025 Konferansı’nın değerlendirildiği bu raporda hem etkinliğe dair bilgileri hem de yazarın kişisel gözlemlerini bulabilirsiniz.

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index to support local elective surgical system strengthening and address growing backlogs. Methods First, we performed an international consultation through a four-stage consensus process to develop a multidomain index for hospital-level assessment (surgical preparedness index; SPI). Second, we measured surgical preparedness across a global network of hospitals in high-income countries (HICs), middle-income countries (MICs), and low-income countries (LICs) to explore the distribution of the SPI at national, subnational, and hospital levels. Finally, using COVID-19 as an example of an external system shock, we compared hospitals' SPI to their planned surgical volume ratio (SVR; ie, operations for which the decision for surgery was made before hospital admission), calculated as the ratio of the observed surgical volume over a 1-month assessment period between June 6 and Aug 5, 2021, against the expected surgical volume based on hospital administrative data from the same period in 2019 (ie, a pre-pandemic baseline). A linear mixed-effects regression model was used to determine the effect of increasing SPI score. In the first phase, from a longlist of 103 candidate indicators, 23 were prioritised as core indicators of elective surgical system preparedness by 69 clinicians (23 [33%] women; 46 [67%] men; 41 from HICs, 22 from MICs, and six from LICs) from 32 countries. The multidomain SPI included 11 indicators on facilities and consumables, two on staffing, two on prioritisation, and eight on systems. Hospitals were scored from 23 (least prepared) to 115 points (most prepared). In the second phase, surgical preparedness was measured in 1632 hospitals by 4714 clinicians from 119 countries. 745 (45•6%) of 1632 hospitals were in MICs or LICs. The mean SPI score was 84•5 (95% CI 84•1-84•9), which varied between HIC (88•5 [89•0-88•0]), MIC (81•8 [82•5-81•1]), and LIC (66•8 [64•9-68•7]) settings. In the third phase, 1217 (74•6%) hospitals did not maintain their expected SVR during the COVID-19 pandemic, of which 625 (51•4%) were from HIC, 538 (44•2%) from MIC, and 54 (4•4%) from LIC settings. In the mixed-effects model, a 10-point increase in SPI corresponded to a 3•6% (95% CI 3•0-4•1; p<0•0001) increase in SVR. This was consistent in HIC (4•8% [4•1-5•5]; p<0•0001), MIC (2•8 [2•0-3•7]; p<0•0001), and LIC (3•8 [1•3-6•7%]; p<0•0001) settings. Interpretation The SPI contains 23 indicators that are globally applicable, relevant across different system stressors, vary at a subnational level, and are collectable by front-line teams. In the case study of COVID-19, a higher SPI was associated with an increased planned surgical volume ratio independent of country income status, COVID-19 burden, and hospital type. Hospitals should perform annual self-assessment of their surgical preparedness to identify areas that can be improved, create resilience in local surgical systems, and upscale capacity to address elective surgery backlogs.

Este artículo presenta una reflexión sobre el campo de investigación de las políticas turísticas en España e Hispanoamérica. Para esto se analizan 81 artículos de investiga­ción y divulgación publicados entre 2004 y 2016. Por una parte, se presenta un análisis de contenido sobre tres temas: qué es el turismo, qué es una política turística y cuáles son los retos actuales para la investigación en este tema. Por otra parte, con un enfoque cualitativo, se realiza un balance en relación con los países más analizados de la región, los niveles territoriales y los enfoques teóri­cos preponderantes en dichos trabajos. Los principales hallazgos señalan, primero, que una definición económica del turismo y de la política turística continúa siendo predo­minante, en detrimento de su entendimiento como un fenómeno social complejo con variadas dimensiones. Y, segundo, que, a pesar de un interés académico emergente por este campo de estudio, el aporte del análisis de políticas públicas al turismo aú...

ResumenEn la primavera de 2016 y 2017 se observaron niveles de ozono superiores a los 150 IMECAS por lo que durante varios dias se decreto la Fase I de Contingencia Ambiental. En 2016 se senalo como probable responsable a una resolucion de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nacion, del ano anterior, que permitia una mayor circulacion de vehiculos. Cuando el fenomeno se repitio en 2017, ya no se hablo mas de la resolucion judicial. En este trabajo se analiza la eficacia, eficiencia y equidad de la politica para reducir y controlar las emisiones de ozono troposferico. Se analizan la estructura institucional de dicha politica que consiste basicamente en restringir la circulacion de algunos vehiculos de acuerdo a la tasa a la que emiten ciertos contaminantes, pero no busca determinar el costo social de las emisiones de contaminantes atmosfericos. Al estimar empiricamente las concentraciones maximas de ozono en relacion a los determinantes que senalan los tres programas oficiales de esta...

y Tecnologías (Conahcyt) difunde, a través de la colección Ciencias y Humanidades para México, obras de investigación científica y humanística que aportan conocimientos para el desarrollo y bienestar de nuestro país. Las personas autoras, tanto nacionales como extranjeras, son profesionales y académicas altamente capacitadas en la investigación humanística y científica, dedicadas a la atención de las principales temáticas y los problemas prioritarios de México, así como del contexto latinoamericano. Con la publicación de estos trabajos se conforma un corpus valioso, accesible para estudiantes de educación superior, así como profesionales especializados y no especializados. De igual forma, el público general podrá completar o enriquecer su formación mediante la lectura y el estudio de sus páginas. Los libros de esta colección abordan cuestiones fundamentales y de interés, como salud, movilidad, soberanía alimentaria, migración, cambio climático, transición energética, educación, artes y literatura, y contribuyen al diálogo e intercambio de ideas sobre temas actuales que remiten a nuestras realidades. De esta manera, el Conahcyt y el Fondo de Cultura Económica han unido esfuerzos para hacer de esta colección una muestra significativa de las visiones y los conocimientos que las y los expertos tienen respecto de algunos temas sobresalientes que hoy se debaten en México y América Latina.

No contexto da rápida urbanização nos países em desenvolvimento, o déficit habitacional se constitui em grande desafio para o desenvolvimento social e econômico. Este é o caso da América Latina, onde se estima que em 2015 este déficit vá atingir 50 milhões de unidades. No Brasil, em 2008, foi estimado em mais de 5,5 milhões de unidades, sendo 83% em zonas urbanas. Para o Brasil como um todo, as famílias com renda de até 3 salários mínimos concentram 89,6% do déficit habitacional A política tradicional tem focado prioritariamente a promoção da casa própria. No Brasil foi a política predominante desde a Fundação da Casa Popular, passando pelo Sistema Financeiro Habitacional entre 1964 e 1986, nas políticas municipais pós Constituição de 1988, na outorga de cartas de crédito e agora, a partir de 2009, na atuação do programa Minha Casa, Minha Vida. Por outro lado, a demanda da população em geral e dos movimentos organizados também é pela produção/propriedade de novas moradias. Mas a ideia de usar apenas a propriedade da casa como forma de construir um patrimônio familiar tem esbarrado no fato de que grande parte da população necessita de um aporte não desprezível em subsídios para consegui-la. De outro lado, a moradia digna é um direito constitucional. O aluguel pode se constituir em forma complementar na redução do déficit em camadas de renda baixa. Nos países desenvolvidos, o mercado de aluguel apresenta proporção forte: nos Estados Unidos, 32% das casas são alugadas, enquanto que na Holanda este percentual atinge 46%, na França 37% e na Inglaterra 29%.

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Cet article dresse un bilan de l’action du president de la Republique quatre ans apres son election en 2017. Les initiatives prises par Emmanuel Macron sont caracterisees par certaines ambiguites strategiques resultant d’un double programme d’action publique militaire. En heritier de la Ve Republique, le chef de l’Etat defend une « certaine idee » de la France, en soutenant un programme « souverainiste ». En entrepreneur de l’Europe, il investit une strategie d’alliances intergouvernementale « et en meme temps » supranationale par un programme « liberal », revelant son « idee incertaine » de l’Europe.

This study examined how promotions at the University of Abuja affected workers' performance, using workers' perceptions that fairness in promotion decisions drives workers' output as a moderating factor. Both primary and secondary sources of data were utilized in the investigation. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique were employed for the study. The findings indicated that when employees perceived that fairness in promotion decisions motivated them to perform better, the influence of promotions on their performance was positive and significant. Additionally, the mediation analysis revealed that when employees believed that fairness in promotion decisions motivated their performance, promotions had a favorable and significant impact on their performance, although this was only a partial mediation. The overall results demonstrated that promotions significantly and positively impacted workers' performance. The study recommended that the University of Abuja administration should prioritize equity in promotion processes to enhance employee performance. Furthermore, to support employees in meeting promotion requirements, the university's management must ensure impartiality in promotion decisions.

The phases of paradigm is a simple cycle of progress (Thomas Kuhn, 1962). Science entails the progression of the accumulation of new knowledge. Science advances the most by occasional revolutionary explosion of new knowledge. Each revolution triggered by the introduction of new ways of thought". Paradigms are formed through a process where scientists or analysts accept the dominant paradigm until abnormalities are thrown up. Then they begin to question the basis of the paradigm itself, new theories emerge which challenge the dominant paradigm and eventually one of these new theories emerge which challenge the dominant and eventually one these new theories become accepted as a new paradigm. This, thus define the shift from behavioralism to the post behavioral school of thought.

This article analyzes policy changes to the Interior Department in six thematic periods of Philippine administrative history: (1) inception of the Interior in the first and second Constitutions of the Filipino revolutionary government, 1897-1900; (2) institutionalization of the Interior Department during the American occupation and the Philippine Commonwealth, 1901-1941; (3) abolition of the Interior Department at the onset of Japan’s invasion and installation of the Philippine Republic, 1942-1944;  (4) restoration of the Interior Department after World War II and Philippine Independence, 1945-1949;(5) dissolution of the Interior Department and enhancement of local governments during decades of instabilities, 1950-1986; and, (6) empowerment of local governments and  establishment of the DILG in a democratized regime, 1987-present. The historical Study explains how institutional reconfigurations of the Interior Department were prompted by regime changes, security challenges, and political will in remarkable periods of policy transformations. Significantly, knowledge of the overall contexts of policy changes to the Philippine Interior for over a century could shed light on the possibility for another turning point, if so desired, given some critical drivers in the evolving political and security environment.

Germany has notable land management and planning traditions. As part of their formal responsibilities, local governments have powers to regulate and structure their areas and landscapes through land-use planning. They use it to prepare and guide land-uses for development purposes in municipalities. This study presents the Bavarian experience of land-use planning in relation to public administration. The study emanated from a research conducted at Technische Universität München and funded by the German Academic Exchange Service. It uses data from semi-structured interviews with land management experts, mayors and public administrators at different levels of public administration. The authors used these interviews to discern the scope, nature and role of public administration of land-uses at either the local or regional scale. It led to four findings. The two major ones being that: first, based on good governance principles, there are contradictions in the administration of land-use planning in Germany. Second, there are no harmonised criteria for assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of land-use planning administration. By way of recommendation, it suggests an efficiency assessment criteria and method of land-use planning through public administration, among others suggestions.

To what extent, and under what conditions, does access to arms fuel violent crime? To answer this question, we exploit a unique natural experiment: the 2004 expiration of the U.S. Federal Assault Weapons Ban exerted a spillover on gun supply in Mexican municipios near Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, but not near California, which retained a pre-existing state-level ban. We find first that Mexican municipios located closer to the non-California border states experienced differential increases in homicides, gun-related homicides, and crime gun seizures after 2004. Second, the magnitude of this effect is contingent on political factors related to Mexico&#39;s democratic transition. Killings increased disproportionately in municipios where local elections had become more competitive prior to 2004, with the largest differentials emerging in high narco-trafficking areas. Our findings suggest that competition undermined informal agreements between drug cartels and entrenched local governme...

Okoronkwo Nwadike who by their effort pooled resource together to ensure that the vision of my academic pursuit is achieved successfully. My immeasurable gratitude also goes to my sweetest friends, Nwaji Uchenna John, Isaac Amarachi, Donatus Genevieve, for their support and to everyone who contributed to the success of this research work; God bless you all.

We conduct descriptive and inferential analyses of publicly available Common Core of Data (CCD) to examine segregation at the local, state, and national levels. Nationally, we find that higher percentages of charter students of every race attend intensely segregated schools. The highest levels of racial isolation are at the primary level for public and middle level for charters. We find that double segregation by race and class is higher in charter schools. Charters are more likely to be segregated, even when controlling for local ethnoracial demographics. A majority of states have at least half of Blacks and a third of Latinx in intensely segregated charters. At the city level, we find that higher percentages of urban charter students were attending intensely segregated schools.

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index to support local elective surgical system strengthening and address growing backlogs. Methods First, we performed an international consultation through a four-stage consensus process to develop a multidomain index for hospital-level assessment (surgical preparedness index; SPI). Second, we measured surgical preparedness across a global network of hospitals in high-income countries (HICs), middle-income countries (MICs), and low-income countries (LICs) to explore the distribution of the SPI at national, subnational, and hospital levels. Finally, using COVID-19 as an example of an external system shock, we compared hospitals' SPI to their planned surgical volume ratio (SVR; ie, operations for which the decision for surgery was made before hospital admission), calculated as the ratio of the observed surgical volume over a 1-month assessment period between June 6 and Aug 5, 2021, against the expected surgical volume based on hospital administrative data from the same period in 2019 (ie, a pre-pandemic baseline). A linear mixed-effects regression model was used to determine the effect of increasing SPI score. In the first phase, from a longlist of 103 candidate indicators, 23 were prioritised as core indicators of elective surgical system preparedness by 69 clinicians (23 [33%] women; 46 [67%] men; 41 from HICs, 22 from MICs, and six from LICs) from 32 countries. The multidomain SPI included 11 indicators on facilities and consumables, two on staffing, two on prioritisation, and eight on systems. Hospitals were scored from 23 (least prepared) to 115 points (most prepared). In the second phase, surgical preparedness was measured in 1632 hospitals by 4714 clinicians from 119 countries. 745 (45•6%) of 1632 hospitals were in MICs or LICs. The mean SPI score was 84•5 (95% CI 84•1-84•9), which varied between HIC (88•5 [89•0-88•0]), MIC (81•8 [82•5-81•1]), and LIC (66•8 [64•9-68•7]) settings. In the third phase, 1217 (74•6%) hospitals did not maintain their expected SVR during the COVID-19 pandemic, of which 625 (51•4%) were from HIC, 538 (44•2%) from MIC, and 54 (4•4%) from LIC settings. In the mixed-effects model, a 10-point increase in SPI corresponded to a 3•6% (95% CI 3•0-4•1; p<0•0001) increase in SVR. This was consistent in HIC (4•8% [4•1-5•5]; p<0•0001), MIC (2•8 [2•0-3•7]; p<0•0001), and LIC (3•8 [1•3-6•7%]; p<0•0001) settings. Interpretation The SPI contains 23 indicators that are globally applicable, relevant across different system stressors, vary at a subnational level, and are collectable by front-line teams. In the case study of COVID-19, a higher SPI was associated with an increased planned surgical volume ratio independent of country income status, COVID-19 burden, and hospital type. Hospitals should perform annual self-assessment of their surgical preparedness to identify areas that can be improved, create resilience in local surgical systems, and upscale capacity to address elective surgery backlogs.

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index to support local elective surgical system strengthening and address growing backlogs. Methods First, we performed an international consultation through a four-stage consensus process to develop a multidomain index for hospital-level assessment (surgical preparedness index; SPI). Second, we measured surgical preparedness across a global network of hospitals in high-income countries (HICs), middle-income countries (MICs), and low-income countries (LICs) to explore the distribution of the SPI at national, subnational, and hospital levels. Finally, using COVID-19 as an example of an external system shock, we compared hospitals' SPI to their planned surgical volume ratio (SVR; ie, operations for which the decision for surgery was made before hospital admission), calculated as the ratio of the observed surgical volume over a 1-month assessment period between June 6 and Aug 5, 2021, against the expected surgical volume based on hospital administrative data from the same period in 2019 (ie, a pre-pandemic baseline). A linear mixed-effects regression model was used to determine the effect of increasing SPI score. In the first phase, from a longlist of 103 candidate indicators, 23 were prioritised as core indicators of elective surgical system preparedness by 69 clinicians (23 [33%] women; 46 [67%] men; 41 from HICs, 22 from MICs, and six from LICs) from 32 countries. The multidomain SPI included 11 indicators on facilities and consumables, two on staffing, two on prioritisation, and eight on systems. Hospitals were scored from 23 (least prepared) to 115 points (most prepared). In the second phase, surgical preparedness was measured in 1632 hospitals by 4714 clinicians from 119 countries. 745 (45•6%) of 1632 hospitals were in MICs or LICs. The mean SPI score was 84•5 (95% CI 84•1-84•9), which varied between HIC (88•5 [89•0-88•0]), MIC (81•8 [82•5-81•1]), and LIC (66•8 [64•9-68•7]) settings. In the third phase, 1217 (74•6%) hospitals did not maintain their expected SVR during the COVID-19 pandemic, of which 625 (51•4%) were from HIC, 538 (44•2%) from MIC, and 54 (4•4%) from LIC settings. In the mixed-effects model, a 10-point increase in SPI corresponded to a 3•6% (95% CI 3•0-4•1; p<0•0001) increase in SVR. This was consistent in HIC (4•8% [4•1-5•5]; p<0•0001), MIC (2•8 [2•0-3•7]; p<0•0001), and LIC (3•8 [1•3-6•7%]; p<0•0001) settings. Interpretation The SPI contains 23 indicators that are globally applicable, relevant across different system stressors, vary at a subnational level, and are collectable by front-line teams. In the case study of COVID-19, a higher SPI was associated with an increased planned surgical volume ratio independent of country income status, COVID-19 burden, and hospital type. Hospitals should perform annual self-assessment of their surgical preparedness to identify areas that can be improved, create resilience in local surgical systems, and upscale capacity to address elective surgery backlogs.

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index to support local elective surgical system strengthening and address growing backlogs. Methods First, we performed an international consultation through a four-stage consensus process to develop a multidomain index for hospital-level assessment (surgical preparedness index; SPI). Second, we measured surgical preparedness across a global network of hospitals in high-income countries (HICs), middle-income countries (MICs), and low-income countries (LICs) to explore the distribution of the SPI at national, subnational, and hospital levels. Finally, using COVID-19 as an example of an external system shock, we compared hospitals' SPI to their planned surgical volume ratio (SVR; ie, operations for which the decision for surgery was made before hospital admission), calculated as the ratio of the observed surgical volume over a 1-month assessment period between June 6 and Aug 5, 2021, against the expected surgical volume based on hospital administrative data from the same period in 2019 (ie, a pre-pandemic baseline). A linear mixed-effects regression model was used to determine the effect of increasing SPI score. In the first phase, from a longlist of 103 candidate indicators, 23 were prioritised as core indicators of elective surgical system preparedness by 69 clinicians (23 [33%] women; 46 [67%] men; 41 from HICs, 22 from MICs, and six from LICs) from 32 countries. The multidomain SPI included 11 indicators on facilities and consumables, two on staffing, two on prioritisation, and eight on systems. Hospitals were scored from 23 (least prepared) to 115 points (most prepared). In the second phase, surgical preparedness was measured in 1632 hospitals by 4714 clinicians from 119 countries. 745 (45•6%) of 1632 hospitals were in MICs or LICs. The mean SPI score was 84•5 (95% CI 84•1-84•9), which varied between HIC (88•5 [89•0-88•0]), MIC (81•8 [82•5-81•1]), and LIC (66•8 [64•9-68•7]) settings. In the third phase, 1217 (74•6%) hospitals did not maintain their expected SVR during the COVID-19 pandemic, of which 625 (51•4%) were from HIC, 538 (44•2%) from MIC, and 54 (4•4%) from LIC settings. In the mixed-effects model, a 10-point increase in SPI corresponded to a 3•6% (95% CI 3•0-4•1; p<0•0001) increase in SVR. This was consistent in HIC (4•8% [4•1-5•5]; p<0•0001), MIC (2•8 [2•0-3•7]; p<0•0001), and LIC (3•8 [1•3-6•7%]; p<0•0001) settings. Interpretation The SPI contains 23 indicators that are globally applicable, relevant across different system stressors, vary at a subnational level, and are collectable by front-line teams. In the case study of COVID-19, a higher SPI was associated with an increased planned surgical volume ratio independent of country income status, COVID-19 burden, and hospital type. Hospitals should perform annual self-assessment of their surgical preparedness to identify areas that can be improved, create resilience in local surgical systems, and upscale capacity to address elective surgery backlogs.

This study examines the actual security consequences caused by the Area boys in Sokoto Metropolis. The study aimed to source opinions of the general public who are members of the society where the area boys operate. These opinions were obtained using a questionnaire distributed to a sample size of three hundred and eighty-five (385) respondents. The study utilises descriptive statistical techniques for its analysis. The research finds that the criminal activities of the area boys in Sokoto metropolis have negative consequences on the lives and properties of the general public. It also confirms that the area boys in Sokoto metropolis partake in destruction of properties, physical harm, pickpocketing, rape, armed robbery, phone snatching, etc. Also, it reveals that the secretive expressions used by the area boys are not familiar to the public who are not members of the group. Finally, the research calls on the government and security agencies to intensify efforts in curbing the menace of area boys in the Sokoto metropolis.

The thesis describes the volunteering in non-formal education since it has become an increasingly important factor in the globalised world. Due to the growing competitiveness and rapid changes in the market, the non-formal education presents an added value to the already acquired knowledge as well as facilitates people's access to the labour market. In addition to the fact that the volunteering mainly focuses on helping others and contributing to the development of new civil society organisations, it also provides individuals with additiona l experience, knowledge and competence that can hardly ever be acquired through formal education. The first part of the thesis will present both formal and non-formal education. Then, the non-formal education recognition procedures in Europe will be described. Furthermore, the volunteering as well as the causes and motives for volunteering among young people will be introduced. They will be further examined in the empirical part of the thesis.

En algún momento de 1990, en las instalaciones del Instituto de Economía Internacional (en Washington DC) un grupo selecto de representantes de organismos internacionales, multilaterales, miembros de las más eméritas comunidades académicas, y responsables de políticas (públicas y sociales ) de la región de ALfueron cimentando lo que se daría en llamar el consenso de Washington. John Williamson (1990) sostuvo así que "Washington" había alcanzado un consenso acerca de, al menos, diez instrumentos de política. El llamado consenso de Washington recomendaba, para salir de la crisis recesiva que sacudió los ochenta, algunas medidas de corte fiscal, muchas de liberalización económica, desregulación de mercados internos y des-estatización de sectores claves de las economías domésticas. 1 Durante la conferencia celebrada con los auspicios del BM en Montevideo en 1997 se destacó el rol determinante que tuvieron la aplicación (parcial) de los instrumentos de política del consenso de Washington para explicar el crecimiento económico producido en la región . Si con las aplicaciones de los instrumentos del consenso de Washington se esperaba reanudar el crecimiento económico, no era menos cierto que se esperaba una significativa disminución de los índices de pobreza, de inequidad y de exclusión

Background: Mental, neurological, and substance (MNS) use disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide; specifically in Peru, MNS affect 1 in 5 persons. However, the great majority of people suffering from these disorders do not access care, thereby making necessary the improvement of existing conditions including a major rearranging of current health system structures beyond care delivery strategies. This paper reviews and examines recent developments in mental health policies in Peru, presenting an overview of the initiatives currently being introduced and the main implementation challenges they face. Methods: Key documents issued by Peruvian governmental entities regarding mental health were reviewed to identify and describe the path that led to the beginning of the reform; how the ongoing reform is taking place; and, the plan and scope for scale-up. Results: Since 2004, mental health has gained importance in policies and regulations, resulting in the promotion of a mental health reform within the national healthcare system. These efforts crystallized in 2012 with the passing of Law 29889 which introduced several changes to the delivery of mental healthcare, including a restructuring of mental health service delivery to occur at the primary and secondary care levels and the introduction of supporting services to aid in patient recovery and reintegration into society. In addition, a performance-based budget was approved to guarantee the implementation of these changes. Some of the main challenges faced by this reform are related to the diversity of the implementation settings, eg, isolated rural areas, and the limitations of the existing specialized mental health institutes to substantially grow in parallel to the scaling-up efforts in order to be able to provide training and clinical support to every region of Peru. Conclusion: Although the true success of the mental healthcare reform will be determined in the coming years, thus far, Peru has achieved a number of legal, policy and fiscal milestones, thereby presenting a unique and fertile environment for the expansion of mental health services.

O presente artigo teve por objetivo demonstrar que os efeitos dos processos de colonizacao repercutem ate hoje, como consequencia historica da expansao economica e socio-cultural, nos padroes e referencias que se utiliza e a qual pertencemos, nas culturas organizacionais, na administracao publica e privada, em seus metodos e atuacoes. A metodologia utilizada foi a pesquisa bibliografica onde o processo comparativo foi construido atraves do estudo da formacao dessas sociedades, analisando a participacao ou a ausencia que seus individuos tiveram na administracao publica, em seus poderes de atuacao e o quanto isto refletiu em seu desenvolvimento na atualidade. A analise das colonias americanas foi dividida de acordo com os agentes colonizadores: pelos portugueses, colonizacao do Brasil; pelos espanhois, grande maioria dos paises da America do Sul, alguns da America Central e da America do Norte, onde atualmente encontra-se o Mexico e parte do oeste norte-americano; pelos ingleses, a co...

The introduction of multiparty democracy in Africa assumed that Africa had a credible judicial system, a free press, a vibrant civil society, an informed citizenry amongst other factors. Africa's democratic institutions should thus reflect these disparities.

This report describes activities and achievements of a project that examined state policies linking new accountability demands with improvements in college teaching and learning. Major activities included: (1) meetings and national forums to explore state and public concerns about the quality and results of undergraduate education; (2) two commissioned papers and 10 case studies on state policy initiatives supporting improvements in teaching and learning through the development of performance indicators; and (3) wide dissemination of the project's findings and continued involvement of the Education Commission of the States (ECS) in the development of performance indicators for higher education. The state-level case studies provide in-depth examinations of formulation, planning, implementation, and reviews of policies and practices related to the assessment of education effectiveness in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, New York-SUNY (State

This report describes activities and achievements of a project that examined state policies linking new accountability demands with improvements in college teaching and learning. Major activities included: (1) meetings and national forums to explore state and public concerns about the quality and results of undergraduate education; (2) two commissioned papers and 10 case studies on state policy initiatives supporting improvements in teaching and learning through the development of performance indicators; and (3) wide dissemination of the project's findings and continued involvement of the Education Commission of the States (ECS) in the development of performance indicators for higher education. The state-level case studies provide in-depth examinations of formulation, planning, implementation, and reviews of policies and practices related to the assessment of education effectiveness in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, New York-SUNY (State

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index to support local elective surgical system strengthening and address growing backlogs. Methods First, we performed an international consultation through a four-stage consensus process to develop a multidomain index for hospital-level assessment (surgical preparedness index; SPI). Second, we measured surgical preparedness across a global network of hospitals in high-income countries (HICs), middle-income countries (MICs), and low-income countries (LICs) to explore the distribution of the SPI at national, subnational, and hospital levels. Finally, using COVID-19 as an example of an external system shock, we compared hospitals' SPI to their planned surgical volume ratio (SVR; ie, operations for which the decision for surgery was made before hospital admission), calculated as the ratio of the observed surgical volume over a 1-month assessment period between June 6 and Aug 5, 2021, against the expected surgical volume based on hospital administrative data from the same period in 2019 (ie, a pre-pandemic baseline). A linear mixed-effects regression model was used to determine the effect of increasing SPI score. In the first phase, from a longlist of 103 candidate indicators, 23 were prioritised as core indicators of elective surgical system preparedness by 69 clinicians (23 [33%] women; 46 [67%] men; 41 from HICs, 22 from MICs, and six from LICs) from 32 countries. The multidomain SPI included 11 indicators on facilities and consumables, two on staffing, two on prioritisation, and eight on systems. Hospitals were scored from 23 (least prepared) to 115 points (most prepared). In the second phase, surgical preparedness was measured in 1632 hospitals by 4714 clinicians from 119 countries. 745 (45•6%) of 1632 hospitals were in MICs or LICs. The mean SPI score was 84•5 (95% CI 84•1-84•9), which varied between HIC (88•5 [89•0-88•0]), MIC (81•8 [82•5-81•1]), and LIC (66•8 [64•9-68•7]) settings. In the third phase, 1217 (74•6%) hospitals did not maintain their expected SVR during the COVID-19 pandemic, of which 625 (51•4%) were from HIC, 538 (44•2%) from MIC, and 54 (4•4%) from LIC settings. In the mixed-effects model, a 10-point increase in SPI corresponded to a 3•6% (95% CI 3•0-4•1; p<0•0001) increase in SVR. This was consistent in HIC (4•8% [4•1-5•5]; p<0•0001), MIC (2•8 [2•0-3•7]; p<0•0001), and LIC (3•8 [1•3-6•7%]; p<0•0001) settings. Interpretation The SPI contains 23 indicators that are globally applicable, relevant across different system stressors, vary at a subnational level, and are collectable by front-line teams. In the case study of COVID-19, a higher SPI was associated with an increased planned surgical volume ratio independent of country income status, COVID-19 burden, and hospital type. Hospitals should perform annual self-assessment of their surgical preparedness to identify areas that can be improved, create resilience in local surgical systems, and upscale capacity to address elective surgery backlogs.

In India's diverse and institutionally complex governance environment, defining what makes a public policy "successful" is both essential and contested. Does success lie in the conceptual strength and theoretical clarity of a policy's design, or should it be judged by the extent to which it delivers tangible outcomes for citizens? Can a well-intentioned but poorly implemented policy be considered effective? Conversely, can a modestly designed initiative achieve meaningful impact through efficient execution? This essay explores these questions by examining the interdependent relationship between design and delivery, ultimately arguing that in India's context, delivery must be prioritized as the principal metric of success. Through a structured framework and real-world case studies, the essay demonstrates that while thoughtful design sets the direction, it is delivery that determines whether policies truly improve lives. The essay offers a pragmatic approach to policy evaluation that moves beyond theory and focuses on real-world outcomes, urging a shift in how success is measured in Indian public policy. 1 Introduction Public policy in India functions within a complex socioeconomic environment characterized by institutional disparities, limited resources, and immense demographic diversity. In this context, determining what constitutes a 'successful' policy is both critical and challenging. Traditionally, policy success has been evaluated through two key lenses: the strength of its design, which includes the clarity of objectives, theoretical foundations, and choice of instruments and the effectiveness of its delivery, or the extent to which it is implemented and achieves tangible outcomes. While design establishes the strategic blueprint, it is delivery that ultimately shapes the real-world impact on citizens' lives. Drawing on (Howlett and Mukherjee (2018)'s Routledge Handbook of Policy Design, this essay argues that while policy design is indispensable as the strategic and intellectual core, delivery must be the primary metric of success, especially in India's implementation challenged governance environment. Using insights from economic theorists such as Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes, Amartya Sen, Arthur Lewis, and Joseph Stiglitz, and case studies including the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Ujjwala Yojana, and the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), the essay evaluates how successful policy outcomes require an interdependent but delivery-centric framework in India. 2 Conceptual Framework: The Interdependence of Design and Delivery Policy design, as defined by (Howlett and Mukherjee (2018), refers to the intentional, knowledgeinformed process of matching policy goals with appropriate instruments in a context-sensitive manner. It involves choosing from a range of substantive and procedural tools that respond effectively to the problem at hand. Adam Smith, in The Wealth of Nations (Smith (1776)), emphasized that policies must align with

This paper critically examines Nigeria’s economic border governance, exploring its influence on cross-border trade and national security. Economic borders go beyond geographic boundaries to include legal, institutional, and policy frameworks that regulate the movement of goods, services, and capital. Despite Nigeria’s strategic trade alliances—such as ECOWAS and AfCFTA—its borders remain porous, leading to widespread smuggling, illicit trade, and insecurity. The study identifies key challenges, including weak institutional coordination, underfunding, poor infrastructure, and corruption. It also highlights the link between porous borders and the spread of arms, human trafficking, and terrorism. Using descriptive analysis and sectoral data, the paper recommends comprehensive reforms such as unified border management, technological investment, legal harmonisation, community engagement, and anti-corruption measures. These proposals aim to improve Nigeria’s border governance, regulate trade more effectively, and strengthen national security. The study concludes that securing economic borders is vital for sustainable development, trade competitiveness, and internal stability within Nigeria’s increasingly interconnected regional environment.
Keywords: Economic Borders, Border Governance, Cross-Border Trade, Nigeria, Smuggling, Insecurity, Trade Policy, and Regional Integration.