{"title":"Can Facebook really be a tool for supporting citizen engagement during emergencies?","authors":"Marco Contri, Silvia Fissi, Elena Gori","doi":"10.1002/pa.2857","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pa.2857","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The present study explores how Italian regions and their presidents employed Facebook during the Covid-19 pandemic to encourage citizen engagement. To do so, it adopts quantitative methodologies. Our results show that most public actors increased their levels of social activity during the pandemic but mainly for promoting public communication and that citizens much prefer interacting with presidents. Moreover, citizen engagement was higher when posts were published during nonbusiness hours or weekends, while it decreased when posts contained photos or videos.</p>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/pa.2857","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48387204","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}
Anna Bodyako, Svetlana Ponomareva, Anna Pugacheva, Tatyana Rogulenko, Victor Kirillov
{"title":"Public sector audit and influence the investment institutional background during a pandemic","authors":"Anna Bodyako, Svetlana Ponomareva, Anna Pugacheva, Tatyana Rogulenko, Victor Kirillov","doi":"10.1002/pa.2856","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pa.2856","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The study purpose was to assess the impact of public sector audit on investment climate formation under the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop recommendations to improve its effectiveness. For this purpose, a multistage research project was developed with the participation of auditors from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. The project was based on the primary information obtained in the course of expert interviews. Testing the methodological approach with experts from these countries allowed proving the main study hypotheses, according to which the public sector audit has an indirect positive impact on investment climate formation. Such an audit influences the main impact factors through improving public administration efficiency, the fight against corruption, and the provision of the regulatory framework. During the testing, the main directions for improving public audit for a more favorable investment climate were formulated. The developed methodological approach makes it possible to obtain an expert assessment of the impact of the public audit on investment climate formation. At the same time, partial use of statistical methods makes it possible to replicate the study in the form of an expert interview, which increases its attractiveness for researchers in conditions of shortage of qualified interviewers.</p>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47496262","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":"A strong sense of commitment and legacy: An eye to the future","authors":"Laura Corazza, Shaista Wasiuzzaman","doi":"10.1002/pa.2854","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pa.2854","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/pa.2854","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42853396","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":"An institutional framework for the socio-economic reintegration of return migrants: A Kerala experience","authors":"Azad Parambengal, Sujathan Pandamangalam Kalam","doi":"10.1002/pa.2855","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pa.2855","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This paper discusses the socio-economic conditions of the return emigrants to Kerala, the highest migration intensity state of India. On close perusal, it is learnt that although concrete steps are being taken by the State for the reabsorption of returnees in the labour market with the help of NORKA, an exclusive department to cater to the demands of return migrants, the State has miles to go in view of the remittances it receives and exodus of migrants on return with their accumulated capital and exceptional work experience for a permanent settlement in their home land.</p>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49183087","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":"External affairs and trusted family businesses: A research agenda","authors":"Jennifer J. Griffin, Yoo Na Youm","doi":"10.1002/pa.2853","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pa.2853","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the past two decades, the <i>Journal of Public Affairs</i> has solidified corporate public affairs as a legitimate leadership skillset vital to driving future business growth. Yet, more work at a persistently overlooked gap in the <i>Journal</i>, the intersection of public affairs and family businesses, might shed new light on thriving, trusted, <i>and</i> sustainable business practices. This paper examines the unique contributions of family businesses as trusted influencers. As one of the most prominent forms of business, worldwide, family businesses persistently enjoy unusually high levels of public trust while collectively employing millions of wage earners yet their contributions to corporate external affairs research ostensibly have been largely overlooked. These “silent” community and social influencers offer a potentially new perspective on effective public outreach given their persistent and unique trust advantage. Family business' trust-based capabilities can potentially bring new insights to understanding effective stakeholder engagement, credible communications, and issues management—the sweet spot of corporate public affairs functions. Future research opportunities based on relational- and locational- advantages of trusted family businesses are identified.</p>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/pa.2853","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48474159","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":"Governing concept or political buzzword? Contested perceptions of local control","authors":"Michael R. Ford","doi":"10.1002/pa.2852","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pa.2852","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This article uses a perceptions-based framework to study how local governing actors define local control, and, to identify the determinants of definition alignment among local officials. A mix of survey and administrative data from Wisconsin officials is used to test nine hypotheses. The results indicate there is wide variation in how local government leaders define local control, and that alignment on the concept's meaning is predicted by ideology, perceived erosion of local control, and positional characteristics. The study concludes that local governments should incorporate a working definition of local control in planning and on-boarding processes in order to provide governing relevance to the concept.</p>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46572595","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}
Imran Naseem, Saeed Akbar, Muhammad Tahir, Saima Imran
{"title":"Does war destroy business? A review of empirical publications","authors":"Imran Naseem, Saeed Akbar, Muhammad Tahir, Saima Imran","doi":"10.1002/pa.2849","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pa.2849","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The study investigates the economic dimensions of war. It considers empirical literature through structure review to explore the different effects of war on businesses. The scope of the study covers all geographical areas and studies dealing with any respective event in the 20<sup>th</sup> and 21<sup>st</sup> centuries. However, the study caters for quality, relevance, and recentness in publications. Hence, publications in 4*, 4, and 3 stars journals that are placed in Association of Business Schools of UK Guidelines in 2015 are reviewed. The study with its extant literature presents an important realization that against the stereo-typed opinion about war being devastating to businesses indicates that war affects in various dimensions, that is, positive, negative, or even no effects depending on the nature and place of business. Whereas businesses, in general, may be negatively affected in wartime, businesses critical to war may get an unprecedented boost. The study also indicates a dire need of developing a framework for investigating this important relationship on sound footings.</p>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48756217","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":"Interrogating sub-Saharan Africa's high economic growth rate and low poverty reduction rate: A poverty paradox?","authors":"Olumide O. Olaoye","doi":"10.1002/pa.2851","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pa.2851","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) high economic growth coincides with an increase in the level of poverty. In a panel of 40 SSA countries over a 30-year period, while accounting for the potential spillover effect of poverty in the region. The study found that economic growth recorded over the years has not translated to poverty reduction, particularly, in resource-rich economies of SSA. The result also shows that income inequality worsens the effect of economic growth on poverty and that the poverty-reducing effectiveness of growth varies considerably across sectors, across space, and over time. The research findings suggest that governments across the region, particularly, in oil-exporting countries in SSA must diversify the economy away from oil (toward the service sector) to reduce poverty in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2022-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44427426","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":"Does political connection influence corporate financial decisions in unstable political environment?","authors":"Samar Riahi, Nadia Loukil","doi":"10.1002/pa.2850","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pa.2850","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The aim of this study is to examine the impact of political connection on the cost of debt, the cost of equity and the investment level in an unstable political environment. We use a sample of 55 Tunisian listed firms during the post-revolution period (2011–2018) and we apply a generalized least square (GLS) approach to test our hypotheses. Findings highlight that political connections increase the corporate financial costs and reduce the investment level. Furthermore, in an additional analysis, we show on the one hand that political instability negatively affects the investment and affects positively the cost of debt and the cost of equity. On the other hand, we make evidence that the political instability level negatively affects the relation between the political connection and the cost of debt. The contribution is, to the best of our knowledge, the absence of studies conducted in Tunisia countries examining the impact of political connection on the financial cost and investment level in an unstable political environment such as Tunisia.</p>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2022-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48448335","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":"COVID-19 Infodemic: A study on the Fragile Five countries","authors":"Merve Boyacı Yıldırım","doi":"10.1002/pa.2846","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pa.2846","url":null,"abstract":"<p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, many rumors and conspiracy theories spread in various media outlets. The purpose of this study is to reveal the nature of the misinformation detected by fact check platforms that spread in the Fragile Five countries. To determine the themes of misinformation about COVID-19 and from which media it is disseminated are a possible way to prevent it. The data of the study were obtained from International Fact-checking Network's CoronaVirusFacts database. One thousand seven hundred thirty-four piece of misinformation collected by web scraping method during the period January 24, 2020 to November 14, 2020 and analyzed with MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020. As a result of the research, it was found that rumors (96.3%) spread more in the Fragile Five countries than conspiracy theories (3.7%). While the main theme of the rumors is about illness (26.9%) and diagnosis-treatment (25%), conspiracy theories are mostly related to the cause of the disease (68.8%). 53.06% of misinformation was spread through the Facebook platform. 15.32% on Twitter; 13.34% on WhatsApp. Misinformation has been heavily false (85.12%) in both rumor and conspiracy theories. In the second place, misleading (10.09%) news spread.</p>","PeriodicalId":47153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Affairs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2022-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9878246/pdf/PA-9999-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10583658","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}