Journal of Public Affairs最新文献

{"title":"Differential Impact of Quantitative Easing on Income, Consumption and Wealth of the Younger and Older Generations","authors":"Aminat A. Raheem","doi":"10.1002/pa.70137","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.70137","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This paper examines the differential effects of quantitative easing on the young, middle-aged and pensioners by comparing the periods before and after quantitative easing interventions in the UK. Quantitative easing may have boosted employment opportunities, as suggested by a few studies, but this paper finds that quantitative easing did not increase income and consumption for the working age groups. However, average income and consumption of the pensioners increase for the same period. The income gain may be partly due to the triple lock on pension. Overall, quantitative easing has a pronounced positive impact on wealth across all generations.</p>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/pa.70137","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147715159","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":"Exploring the Link Between Financial Inclusion and Social Well-Being: Global Evidence","authors":"Mohammad Ali Jamali,&nbsp;Hatra Voghouei,&nbsp;Mosharrof Hosen","doi":"10.1002/pa.70135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.70135","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This article deals with the critical challenge of financial inclusion and its impact on social welfare based on inequality at a global level that affects individuals and societies. Using data from 60 countries between 2010 and 2022, this study uses a two-step system GMM estimation with the support of Stata software to address potential endogeneity issues. Key findings indicate that financial inclusion (defined as the access to and use of formal financial services) promotes the social pillar of sustainability through enhancing the Human Development Index (HDI) and voter turnout. However, it seems that financial inclusion alone is not sufficient. In the absence of adequate financial literacy—the ability to understand and effectively use financial information—individuals may face unintended consequences such as over-indebtedness or poor financial choices that can undermine well-being. Importantly, this paper highlights that financial inclusion influences not only individual behavior in improving personal well-being but also shapes individuals' societal roles by encouraging greater participation in civic activities such as voting. This dual impact underscores financial inclusion's transformative role in fostering personal development and community engagement. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers, recommending financial literacy programs, responsible lending policies, and governance improvements to create inclusive, equitable, and sustainable societies.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147715099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breaking Down IPO Barriers: Cultivating Conducive Retail Investment Environment","authors":"Sachin Prakash Srivastava,&nbsp; Himanshu,&nbsp;Gaurav Jyoti,&nbsp;Sanjay Gupta","doi":"10.1002/pa.70127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.70127","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The paper aims at providing a modeling framework on the barriers, which influence the retail investment decision in the initial public offering (IPO) market. Based on a structured literature review and nominal group-based expert discussions, eight major barriers were identified and they were assessed through the grey-DEMATEL methodology. The findings point out that information asymmetry and higher pricing by issuers are the most prominent barriers. High information asymmetry and a lack of understanding of IPO issuers' future prospects force investors to make decisions based on heuristics rather than on reliable and relevant information. The absence of a standard valuation method compels uninformed investors to perform a subjective valuation of IPO issuers. Investors become unable to distinguish between underpriced and overpriced IPOs. Thus, this study provides a supporting explanation for the “winner's curse” and the “hot issue market” phenomena. The current study suggests that the establishment of a favorable investment environment is an ongoing activity, and the regulators have to intervene frequently in order to achieve optimality.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147714986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Digital Citizenship and Political Culture: How Digital Civic Engagement Shapes Political Orientations in Erbil, Iraq","authors":"Lashkr Aliakbar Hadaya","doi":"10.1002/pa.70138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.70138","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This quantitative study examines the relationship between digital citizenship behaviors and political culture formation among 374 citizens in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The research addresses a critical gap in understanding how digital transformation influences political culture orientations in postconflict societies. Using a cross-sectional survey design with stratified random sampling, this study investigates how digital civic engagement, online political participation, e-government interaction, and social media political discourse shape democratic, traditional, and hybrid political culture orientations. The theoretical framework integrates Mossberger et al.'s (2008) digital citizenship theory with Almond and Verba's (1963) political culture typology and Norris's (2001) democratic participation framework. Data collection employed a validated 85-item questionnaire with Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients ranging from 0.847 to 0.923 across all scales. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, multiple regression analysis, and factor analysis using SPSS 28.0. Results reveal that digital civic engagement (<i>β</i> = 0.312, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and online political participation (<i>β</i> = 0.287, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) significantly predict democratic political culture orientations, while traditional media consumption (<i>β</i> = 0.198, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01) associates with traditional political culture patterns. The model explains 68.4% of variance in political culture orientations (<i>R</i>² = 0.684, <i>F</i> = 89.23, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Findings indicate that citizens with higher digital citizenship behaviors demonstrate stronger democratic orientations, increased political tolerance, and greater support for participatory governance. This research contributes novel insights into digital democracy development in the Middle East, particularly within Kurdistan Region's unique socio-political context. The study's implications extend to policymakers, digital governance initiatives, and civic education programs aimed at fostering democratic political culture through digital engagement platforms.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147715013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Governance Quality and Tax Revenue Mobilization in Africa: Evidence From Micro-Level Data","authors":"Abdulfatai A. Adedeji,&nbsp;Ayodotun Ayorinde,&nbsp;Omolola M. Lipede","doi":"10.1002/pa.70132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.70132","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines the relationship between governance quality and tax revenue performance in 14 African countries across 2015, 2016, and 2022, using harmonized data from the Afrobarometer survey and the International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) Government Revenue Dataset. It investigates whether public perceptions of political participation, institutional trust, corruption, democracy, and public service delivery are associated with differences in total, direct, and indirect tax-to-GDP ratios. Using predictive margins from linear models, countries are classified into high and low governance quality groups based on mean thresholds for each governance indicator. The findings reveal a complex and often inverse relationship between governance quality and revenue. Notably, the study identifies a statistically significant negative association between trust in tax departments and total tax revenue, indicating that lower trust environments often exhibit higher predicted tax-to-GDP ratios. Similarly, lower levels of institutional trust and satisfaction with democracy are associated with higher predicted ratios, particularly for direct taxes. Conversely, higher governance quality is more consistently associated with indirect tax performance, suggesting a shift in revenue composition rather than overall volume. These results challenge conventional assumptions that better governance uniformly leads to greater revenue mobilization, highlighting a nuanced pattern where tax extraction persists independently of perceived state legitimacy. The study contributes to debates on the fiscal social contract in Africa by demonstrating that revenue performance is not always aligned with governance legitimacy. It argues for a reorientation of tax reform beyond technocratic capacity-building toward deepening institutional trust, service delivery, and political accountability to ensure a more sustainable and equitable revenue system.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147714960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Civil Servants' Job Satisfaction Through AMO HR Practices and Work–Life Support","authors":"Ahyar Yuniawan,&nbsp;Hersugondo Hersugondo,&nbsp;Fuad Mas'ud,&nbsp;Hengky Latan,&nbsp;Muhamad Syaichu","doi":"10.1002/pa.70131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.70131","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines the inconsistent link between HR practices and employee well-being through the lens of the ability–motivation–opportunity (AMO) framework, focusing on how AMO-enhancing practices influence civil servants' job satisfaction directly and indirectly via work–life support. Using a nonexperimental survey design and purposive sampling, data were collected from 326 civil servants in Indonesian government bureaucracies and analyzed with covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). The findings show that all three HR practices significantly enhance job satisfaction, with work–life support serving as a mediating mechanism. This suggests that civil servants' satisfaction is shaped not only by HR practices themselves but also by organizational support for balancing professional and personal responsibilities in bureaucratic contexts.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147715285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unpacking the Role of Financial Stress and Borrowing Costs in Shaping India's Economic Growth: Insights From the SVAR Framework","authors":"Seba Mohanty,&nbsp;Debi Prasad Bal","doi":"10.1002/pa.70134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.70134","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines the dynamic interrelationship between the cost of borrowing, the financial stress index, and economic growth in India over the time period between December 2005 and December 2021. We have used the SVAR method, which incorporates the theory-based restrictions. These restrictions enable the model to disentangle economically meaningful shocks, thereby providing valuable insights for policymakers. This study finds that financial stress negatively and significantly affects economic growth, indicating that uncertainty in the financial system reduces economic activity. Conversely, the positive and significant impact of economic growth on the financial stress index suggests that higher levels of growth increase systemic risk in the financial sector. However, the analysis reveals an insignificant relationship between the cost of borrowing, financial stress, and economic growth. Further, the impulse response function results indicate a negative relationship between the financial stress index and economic growth over a 10-period horizon. From the policy perspective, this study suggests that an emerging economy like India needs to improve its financial infrastructure to achieve a higher sustainable economic growth rate. Due to underdeveloped financial markets, emerging markets are more vulnerable to financial stress.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147615270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural Resource Windfalls in the Face of Climate Change: Insights From the Big Five African Economies","authors":"Fisayo Fagbemi,&nbsp;Olusola Mathew Oloba,&nbsp;Geraldine Ejiaka Nzeribe,&nbsp;Joan Nwamaka Ozoh","doi":"10.1002/pa.70130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.70130","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Emerging climate risks provide undeniable evidence that Africa’s fragile resource systems are highly susceptible to climatic variability. Thus, the impact of climate change on natural resource rents is examined with a focus on the big five African economies. Using Pooled Mean Group (PMG) Estimator and Panel Causality Test, the study covers the period 1990–2023. It is empirically confirmed that climate change negatively impacts natural resource rents as findings depict that a rise in the levels of carbon emissions would result in reduced resource rents in the long run. This validates the assumption that the effects of changing climate conditions could be harmful to resource availability and environmental sustainability in cities and communities, suggesting a link with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities). Regarding heterogeneous estimates obtained, it is shown that South Africa and Egypt reflect better outcomes compared to Algeria, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. It is, therefore, emphasized that differences in the quality of policy frameworks could be responsible for the empirical outcomes. Based on the causality results, a bidirectional association is established between carbon emissions and natural resource rents, indicating that climate change and natural resource rents could influence each other. Hence, it is suggested that building low-carbon infrastructure, maintaining land degradation neutrality and prioritizing sustainable ecosystem management are essential for achieving desired outcomes.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147615326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research Handbook on Public Affairs: Connecting Evidence and StrategyBy Arco Timmermans (Ed.), Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024. 416 pp. £215 (hardback). ISBN: 978-1-80392-027-6","authors":"Phil Harris","doi":"10.1002/pa.70129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.70129","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Statecraft From Below: A Theoretical Appraisal of the Back to Village (B2V) Programme in Jammu and Kashmir","authors":"Mohd Amin Mir,&nbsp;Ubaid Sidique","doi":"10.1002/pa.70128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.70128","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This article offers a theoretical appraisal of the Back to Village (B2V) programme in Jammu and Kashmir, situating it at the intersection of participatory governance, democratic decentralisation and post-conflict state-building. Drawing on Participatory Development Theory and Relative Deprivation Theory, it analyses how B2V institutionalises participation while simultaneously pursuing legitimacy through visible responsiveness and grievance redressal. Based on an interpretive analysis of official programme documents and secondary implementation accounts, the study argues that B2V embeds a central contradiction. It mobilises participatory forms but operationalises them through an audit-driven, bureaucratically managed interface focused on data collection, verification and administrative follow-up. As a result, participation tends to remain consultative rather than devolving authority to local institutions. Further research grounded in people's perspectives is essential to assess B2V's implications for decentralisation and socio-economic transformation. The study contributes to debates on participatory governance in transitional settings, where technocratic interventions often clash with substantive empowerment.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147567611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}