{"title":"Active Labor Market Policies and instability of their allocations: A changing relationship in the case of regions of Tunisia","authors":"Marwa Sahnoun , Chokri Abdennadher","doi":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100026","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Evaluation studies focus exclusively on the impact of Active Labor Market Policies (ALMP) on the functioning of the labor market. In particular, they measure the impact of specific programs on the income and future of target groups. Studies that aim to assess the impact of ALMPs as a whole on the overall performance of the labor market remain quite rare. Evaluation studies do not focus on the design and implementation of ALMPs. Little is known about the factors behind the failure or success of ALMPs. This paper addresses this problem by examining how a factor relating to the instability of ALMP and their associated budgetary allocations leads to ineffective ALMPs in a regional context. Based on dynamic panel regression models for a sample of 24 governorates in Tunisia grouped into 7 regions. over the period from 2005 to 2015, we found that ALMPs are effective in reducing the unemployment rate. In addition, by testing the moderating effect of the instability of ALMPs, we show that this instability is very harmful insofar as the link between ALMPs and the unemployment rate is attenuated.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45520,"journal":{"name":"Regional Science Policy and Practice","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 100026"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1757780224000611/pdfft?md5=1d31cf3d5ecd1f038c2150de3d2a0e61&pid=1-s2.0-S1757780224000611-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141315131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coping with urban flooding: A community portrayal of Bardhhaman Town, West Bengal, India","authors":"Soumita Banerjee , Gupinath Bhandari","doi":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The majority of flooding in cities occurs while raining because of the cities' uncontrolled growth of population and their pattern of settlements, haphazardly sprawling urbanization, their inadequate and faulty drainage, and also due to absence of scientific waste management. A proper example of these factors playing together might be in the town of Bardhhaman, the only Class-I town in the District of East Bardhhaman, living with both the River Banka in the North-Central section and the River Damodar in the Southern part. But the town gets often partially water stagnated not due to these rivers flooding, rather turning one of the rivers (Banka) in to a dump yard along with other drainage networks. And this scenario is being continuously worsened by the citizens who were supposed to things make better. The methodology chosen for the study includes semi-structured interviews, focused group discussions (FGD), and observational analyses during the field with respondents. The nine groups of citizens and two groups of Municipal workers from varied parts of the Municipality were selected based on certain demographic and socio-economic criteria but the incidents of water inundation of the citizens played an important role while sorting the groups. These outcomes of the interactions have been put for a thematic analysis using QDA Miner Lite 4.0 (14 day trial version) and plotted in PAST 4.03(shareware) and MS- Excel (2017) for graphical representations. This article seeks an improved comprehension of the flooding scenario from the perspective of individuals, and so argues for a shift in the Municipal Authority's and citizens' conceptions. During the survey, the discrepancy between the municipality's policy framework and the actual reality became clear--this is where a decentralized method of policies thought to appear as essential. So, this paper would portray the scenario of urban flooding keeping community in the center of discussion.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45520,"journal":{"name":"Regional Science Policy and Practice","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 100020"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1757780224000520/pdfft?md5=bdf1bf641c67b074e07e0353c646f0db&pid=1-s2.0-S1757780224000520-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141315137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Socio-economic inequalities and their impact on children's health and nutrition in Tunisia using generalized entropy measures","authors":"Anis Ochi , Yosra Saidi","doi":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper aims to investigate the drivers of inequality of opportunity in health outcome among children below 5 years of age, using the Tunisian 2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. This study adopts the general entropy measures to examine the pattern of child health inequality. The results of the anthropometric measures show that 1.5% of children in Tunisia are underweight, 8.3% are stunting and 2.1% are wasting. The results of generalized entropy measures indicate that the general disparity in child health is low across demographic characteristics. Inequality of opportunity in Tunisia is particularly high in access to health services between regions. The results also show that geographical location, parental education and wealth are the main factors contributing to inequality of opportunity in child health outcome. On the basis of the results, this research suggests several policy recommendations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45520,"journal":{"name":"Regional Science Policy and Practice","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 100034"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1757780224000696/pdfft?md5=6665fe7a2d6cdc9dc070d2023ca1b882&pid=1-s2.0-S1757780224000696-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141315133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Public debt, investment and economic growth dynamics: Do geographical proximity and spatial spillover effects matter?","authors":"Bunde Aggrey Otieno","doi":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study employed an innovative spatial econometrics approach to analyze the spillover effects of foreign public debt and foreign direct investment (FDI) on regional economic growth dynamics of Eastern Africa. Specifically, we utilize Spatial Durbin Fixed Effect (SDM-FE) Model, drawing on balanced panel data from the World Development Indicators (WDI) for the period 1992–2019. This study contributes by utilizing a spatial weight matrix and investigating its interactions with economic growth and various other macro-regional factors, thereby unveiling the presence of spatial spillover effects and the impact of geographical proximity of countries within the region. Our results indicate that foreign public debt, FDI, gross fixed capital formation, human capital development, inflation, and government expenditure, significantly have spatial spillover effects on regional economic growth. Additionally, the results underscore the presence of regional growth divergence and provide further evidence of substantial regional spatial dependence in economic growth. Based on these outcomes, it is evident that foreign public debt has a negative impact on economic growth, which is consistent with the debt overhang theory and the crowding-out hypothesis. Moreover, the foreign public debt and regional growth policies should be devised considering the geographical interconnectedness between countries in the region, as the research output has revealed the impacts of growth and debt spillovers among the countries studied. Policies that prioritize these objectives would promote long-term regional economic growth and prevent the effects of excessive foreign public debt by creating a favorable macroeconomic climate.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45520,"journal":{"name":"Regional Science Policy and Practice","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 100059"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1757780224001847/pdfft?md5=701628fb24c6a96c605b669579038121&pid=1-s2.0-S1757780224001847-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141315135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Regional structural change in Argentina (1996–2019): Concepts, measurements and unequal trajectories over the business cycle","authors":"Andrés Niembro , Carla Daniela Calá","doi":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100068","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100068","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Although multiple studies on structural change can be found at the national level, the definition of structural change is far from univocal and its subnational manifestations remain underexplored. This paper empirically examines the patterns of regional structural change in Argentina according to the four main definitions used in the literature (not only productive diversification, predominant in the economic geography field), highlighting the differences that arise when applying these concepts. Based on employment data for 85 labor market areas (LMAs) throughout the 1996–2019 period, we propose different criteria to apply and measure the four definitions and to classify the heterogeneous trajectories of structural change in LMAs, including cluster analysis. As the business cycle is a critical dimension in such an unstable economy, we examine the entire period and compare two sub-periods with very different economic dynamics. The results show that the identification of structural change depends on the concepts and measures used, the unit of analysis (national versus regional) and the type of economic cycle. These findings call for context- and place-based policies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45520,"journal":{"name":"Regional Science Policy and Practice","volume":"16 8","pages":"Article 100068"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1757780224001938/pdfft?md5=4883323027e12483d54ebec5edf95f28&pid=1-s2.0-S1757780224001938-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141143173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impacts of road transport infrastructure investments on the Latin American Integration Route","authors":"Daniel Centurião , Mateus Boldrine Abrita , Angelo Rondina Neto , Ana Paula Camilo , Rafaella Stradiotto Vignandi , Guilherme Espíndola Junior , Vanessa Weber , Nelagley Marques , Ruberval Franco Maciel","doi":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100061","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100061","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Using structural impact analysis, this paper investigates the economic implications of road transport infrastructure investments on the Latin American Integration Route (LAIR) in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. We aim to determine whether these investments can drive short-term local economic growth, identify sectors that benefit the most from the investments, and analyze the distribution of effects among MS municipalities. Based on three comparative scenario simulations, the findings indicate that infrastructure investments are likely to yield positive short-term impacts on MS's GDP. The intensity of these impacts varies across industries and municipalities, with Campo Grande (state capital) being a key beneficiary. Compared to other types of investments, those in transport infrastructure have a lower dispersion capacity in space. The main contribution lies in utilizing the S-curve to model the financial progress of each investment project, as this information is frequently unavailable. Additionally, adopting the Spatial Location Quotient (SLQ) estimates the spatial distribution of investments impacts. Lastly, the guided simulation of investments is a methodology to enhance the efficacy of formulating and executing public investment policies, considering the local spatial consequences of these investments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45520,"journal":{"name":"Regional Science Policy and Practice","volume":"16 8","pages":"Article 100061"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1757780224001860/pdfft?md5=334b7c12214b2b03f0bd630494aaec41&pid=1-s2.0-S1757780224001860-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141055772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Amenities and crime: What is the association of amenities with crime in urban areas of Cuenca, Ecuador?","authors":"Paúl Sebastián Loja , Wilmer Mateo Heras , César Andrés Mendoza","doi":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100062","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100062","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The study of crime and its associated factors is fundamental to improving the well-being of a society. In this context, this study aimed to understand the influence of amenities on crime in the urban areas of Cuenca (Ecuador). To this purpose, data was obtained from public entities and Google Places API. The empirical strategy employed involved the estimation of a set of spatial econometric models. The results show that amenities have an attractor effect on crime, thus reflecting that criminals act in places where there is a large accumulation of people. It was also found that the presence of government entities has no effect on crime.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45520,"journal":{"name":"Regional Science Policy and Practice","volume":"16 8","pages":"Article 100062"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1757780224001872/pdfft?md5=975b3d4cde0fa6c4bfb2b1daa7eb24c4&pid=1-s2.0-S1757780224001872-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141036141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Cascadia Innovation Corridor: The role of social entrepreneurship in the making of a North American innovative cross-border region","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100067","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100067","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>There remains a dearth of literature dedicated to urban core-to-core cross-border regions, especially ones described as highly innovative. Hence, there is a growing need to advance the concept of a cross-border region, especially through the lens of clusters and smart system innovation policy by considering what might be the role of social entrepreneurship regarding its development. Thus, this article focuses on how an innovative cross-border region may be emerging between the bi-national Cascadia region, and analyzes the role of corporate driven social entrepreneurship in its advancement.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45520,"journal":{"name":"Regional Science Policy and Practice","volume":"16 9","pages":"Article 100067"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1757780224001926/pdfft?md5=287ab1c6670f14d7425a3a7c9fa8a2c0&pid=1-s2.0-S1757780224001926-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141055880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}