BVA policy on bovine TB and badger control

Bovine tuberculosis (bovine TB) is a controversial animal health policy issue in England, which impacts farmers, the public, cattle and badgers. Badgers (Meles meles) act as a wildlife reservoir of disease. Policy options for badger control include (1) do nothing, (2) badger culling, and (3) badger vaccination. This paper argues for mandatory Animal Welfare Impact Assessment (AWIA) for all policy that significantly affects sentient animals. AWIA includes (1) species description, and (2) AWIA analysis stages. In this paper, AWIA is applied to impacts of bovine TB policy options on cattle and badgers. Over 4 years, 85,000 badgers will be culled to prevent the slaughter of ~17,750 cattle over 9 years. Hence, about five badgers are culled for every cow which avoids slaughter. The AWIA analyses the impact of badger vaccination on cows and badgers based on a set of stated assumptions. The AWIA estimates badger vaccination to reduce the number of cows slaughtered by 11,600, i.e. a 12.5% reduction. Additional to the harm of killing, culling has greater welfare impacts on badgers compared to non-culling options. Actors in animal health and welfare policy were interviewed about the concept of AWIA. Policy actors supported the idea of AWIA to provide objective data to feed into policy making. The paper concludes with the proposal that AWIA is a necessary stage of just policy making where sentient animals are impacted by government policy.

A large number of Large-billed Crows Corvus macrorhynchos and Carrion Crows C. corone are culled annually either by shooting or trapping in Japan, but the effects of such culling on crow behaviour have never been evaluated. I hypothesized that in an area where crows are shot they would become more sensitive to human disturbance than those in an area where they are trapped. I compared alert and flight initiation distances of crows in two nearby, but separate, areas in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, in March 2004. In 2003 all 1,025 crows culled in the Daito area were shot, whereas 95.3% of 1,586 crows culled in the Tono area were trapped. Topography, land use, and human population densities were similar in the two areas. Analyses using generalized linear models showed that the area (and hence the method of culling) was the sole explanatory variable in the best model and included in each of the top five models for both distance measures. The median alert distance and flight initiation distance were greater where crows were shot than where they were trapped (60.0 m vs. 20.5 m and 46.0 m vs. 18.0 m, respectively). Other factors, such as species, flock size, behaviour, and habitat type, were far less important. These results show that shooting has a greater non-lethal effect on crows than trapping. While trapping may be a more efficient way of removing crows than shooting, shooting not only reduces the number of nuisance animals directly, but also affects their behaviour and habitat use so that damage is reduced indirectly. Shooting is thus the more effective choice for culling in order to reduce damage caused by crows.

This note reports on the results of a choice experiment survey of 400 people in England and Wales, conducted to estimate the value that society places on changes to the size of the badger population. The study was undertaken in the context of the possible need to reduce the badger population by culling to help control bovine tuberculosis in cattle. The study found that people were concerned about the problem of bovine tuberculosis in cattle, which was reflected in their willingness to pay to control the disease, and gave a relatively low value to changes in the size of the badger population (within limits). However, people did not like the idea of a policy that intentionally killed large numbers of badgers and had a relatively very high willingness to pay not to have such a policy.

정부가 정책PR을 수행하는 이유는 국민의 정책지지와 정부신뢰를 얻기 위한 것이다. 정책지지와 정부신뢰는 정부가 정책을 입안하고 수행하는데 원동력이 되기 때문이다. 이런 점에서 본 연구는 동반성장 정책을 중심으로 정책PR이 정책지지, 정부신뢰에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 연구결과, 첫째 동반성장 정책PR 활동과 정책PR의 성과에 대해 긍정적인 인식을 가질수록 동반성장 정책과 동반성장 정책지지에 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 둘째, 동반성장 정책에 대해 긍정적인 인식을 가질수록 동반성장 정책지지가 높아졌다. 셋째, 동반성장 정책지지가 높을수록 정부신뢰(전문성, 윤리성, 신뢰성)에 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 이러한 결과는 정책PR이 정책지지, 정부신뢰를 이끌어내는 효과적 수단이라는 점을 보여준다. 나아가 정부신뢰 제고를 위해서는 정책PR 뿐만 아니라 정책의 투명하고 공정한 집행이 뒷받침되어야 한다. Government has been doing policy PR to acquire policy support and government trust of people. Because it is believed that policy support and government trust of people can be a driving force of government activity. In this perspective, this study analyzed the effects of government's policy PR on the policy support and government trust of people focusing on the corporation partnership policy. According to the results, first people who have more positive attitude to the policy PR activity and its result, they have more positive attitude to the policy and its support. Second, people who have positive attitude to the corporation partnership policy, they have more positive attitude to the policy support. Third, people who have more positive attitude to policy support, they have more government trust(professionalism, ethicality, reliability). These results show that policy PR is effective method for inducing policy support and government trust of people. And for improving government trust. it is needed not only policy PR but also fair and transparent execution of policy.

Tuberculosis in humans and animals: are we a threat to each other?

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis. The impact of bTB on global TB control has been underestimated. We adopted the One Health approach to human bTB surveillance in Taiwan. Of 20,972 human TB cases, 202 (1.0%) were bTB, 78.2% were in males, 85.1% were new cases, 83.2% were pulmonary TB, and most were in Central (52.5%) and Southern (24.8%) Taiwan. Only 18.8% of bTB patients had known animal contact. Of the 202 human M. bovis strains, 100% were resistant to pyrazinamide (PZA), 30.2% were concurrently resistant to isoniazid (INH) and 2.0% were multidrug resistant, defined as being resistant to at least INH and rifampin. Whereas, of the 22 animal M. bovis strains, 100% and 22.7% were resistant to PZA and INH, respectively. Seven spoligotypes and 25 mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit genotypes were identified. The predominant genotype, SB0265, was also prevalent in livestock. Notably, six animal-specific M. bovis genotypes were identified. bTB differential diagnosis and drug resistance detection are crucial for TB control. Comprehensive surveillance and human-animal interface investigations are needed.

PurposeCOVID-19 has made businesses increasingly dependent on technology to be competitive and efficient. Small and medium enterprises (SME) digitalisation and innovation research are widespread. SME digital transformation and innovation require government policies, initiatives and assistance. How the government can help SMEs achieve these goals is unclear. So, this paper aims to investigate how government policy may assist Vietnamese SMEs to boost innovation performance and digital transformation.Design/methodology/approachThe study will take a quantitative approach, with questionnaires distributed to 659 respondents from SMEs in Vietnam through snowball and convenience sampling procedures. The structural equational modelling method is used for data analysis.FindingsThe study indicated that government policies supported Vietnamese SMEs’ innovation and information technology (IT) capabilities. Government policy assistance also boosted IT capabilities and innovation. Furthermore, mediation effects show that digital transformation fully mediates the relationship between innovativeness and firm performance, whereas IT capabilities partially mediate this relationship.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research that replicates the findings and analyses contextual heterogeneities between nations is advised because Vietnam’s pandemic setting was both similar and dissimilar.Practical implicationsThe study demonstrated government-company interactions through supportive policy. It investigated whether SMEs seeking digital transformation and innovativeness might gain competitive benefits by implementing effective knowledge management and enhancing their IT capabilities.Originality/valueA resource-based theoretical framework is extended to study how innovation, public policy and digital transformation for SMEs interact. The study confirms government policy strongly influences enterprises’ digital development. Specifically, the new mediating effects of IT capabilities and digital transformation are explored and provide new insights into the existing literature.

This research article examines the Japanese government's support policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government implemented macroeconomic measures, including monetary and fiscal policies, to mitigate the pandemic's adverse effects and support economic recovery. While these policies achieved certain successes, the Japanese economy continues to face significant challenges, such as slow economic growth, a large budget deficit, and rising public debt, which threaten the long-term sustainability of public finances. Additionally, inflation has exceeded target levels, but workers' wages have stagnated, creating financial hardships for many households. Rapid population aging further undermines the sustainability of the social security system, placing additional pressure on public spending, monetary policies, and fiscal strategies. These challenges complicate Japan's efforts to sustain economic growth and uphold living standards.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) has been discovered in unprecedented levels in Michigan's white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herd. Human practices have facilitated the spread of bovine TB in white-tailed deer, and public cooperation is necessary to reduce the spread of the disease. Social data can determine public support for eradication strategies, as well as identify targets and messages for ongoing communication efforts. We conducted a survey of 5 bovine TB-issue stakeholder groups to assess and compare attitudes toward bovine TB-related topics and support for eradication and eradication policies. We also identified knowledge levels and interest in future bovine TB issue communications and preferences for communication sources. Results indicated that stakeholders supported the bovine TB eradication goal, but were less supportive of specific eradication policies. Stakeholders held different beliefs about threats posed by bovine TB, and about the means through which the disease is transmitted; ...

Significance The extent of their preparedness reflects a combination of willingness and ability. Willingness is evident in government policy and in the public's environmental consciousness and support for government targets and policies. Ability stems from wealth, both public and private, industrial expertise and the capacity to innovate. Impacts North European countries are likely to take a lead in hydrogen and carbon capture and storage technologies. Lower-income European countries will struggle to raise capital to invest in electricity transmission. Those countries able to develop deployable clean energy technologies will be better placed to offset the costs of transition.

본 연구는 일본의 ‘책마을 만들기’ 사례 중의 하나인 ‘책마을 하치노헤’를 중심으로 지방소멸과 지역재생의 문제를 진단하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 우리나라는 고령화사회로 진입했고 급속히 초고령사회로 접어들고 있다. 이러한 고령화 문제는 삶의 질이 떨어지고 결과적으로 국가 경쟁력을 약화시킨다. 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위해 중앙정부와 지방정부는 ‘도시재생’과 ‘지역재생’ 사업을 전개하고 있다. 하지만 도시재생 사업은 도시 외관과 시설 등 하드웨어에 집중하고 있고, 문화와 복지처럼 소프트웨어 분야의 문화프로그램에는 지원 정책이 상대적으로 미흡하다. 고령화 정책에서 문화복지 정책은 내적으로 지역민의 삶의 질을 높이고 커뮤니케이션을 강화하는 긍정적인 측면이 있으며, 외적으로 외부 인구의 유입을 촉진하는 매개 역할을 한다. 일본의 소도시 하치노헤는 출판생태계를 활용해 지역 주민에게 문화프로그램을 제공해 성공적인 지역재생의 사례로 재평가 받고 있다. 우리나라의 일부 지역에서 책마을 만들기 사업을 전개하고 있으나 큰 반향을 일으킨 사례가 없고, 지역의 지원 정책도 미흡한 것이 현실이다. 이러한 한계를 극복하기 위해서는 지역주민의 적극적인 관심과 참여, 그리고 지방자치단체의 지속적인 지원과 일관된 정책이 핵심이다. 이러한 측면에서 책마을 하치노헤는 우리나라 지방 도시에 시사하는 바가 크고, 지역소멸을 예방하기 위한 지역재생을 위한 모범적인 사례가 될 것으로 본다.The research aims to diagnose and suggest solutions to the problems of local extinction and regional regeneration, focusing on Hachinohe a book village in Japan, one of Japan s book village. Korea has entered an aging society and is rapidly becoming a post-aged society. This problem of aging decreases the quality of life and consequently undermines national competitiveness. To address these problems, the central and local governments are implementing urban regeneration and regional regeneration projects. However, urban regeneration projects are focused on hardware such as city appearance and facilities, and cultural programs in the software sector, such as culture and welfare, have relatively insufficient support policies. In the policy of aging, the policy of cultural welfare has a positive aspect that internally improves the quality of life of local people and strengthens communication, and externally serves as a medium to promote the influx of outside population. Hachinohe, a small Japanese city, is being reevaluated as a case of successful regional regeneration by providing cultural programs to local residents using the publishing ecosystem. Although some areas in Korea are developing book village-making projects, there have been no cases of major repercussions, and local support policies have been insufficient. To overcome these limitations, the active interest and participation of local residents, and continuous support and consistent policies of local governments are key. In this respect, Hachinohe of Book village has a great implications for the nation s provincial cities, and is an exemplary case for local extinction to prevent local extinction.

While researchers are aware that a mix of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK), community-based resource management institutions, and higher-level institutions and policies can facilitate pastoralists' adaptation to climate change, policy makers have been slow to understand these linkages. Two critical issues are to what extent these factors play a role, and how to enhance local adaptation through government support. We investigated these issues through a case study of two pastoral communities on the Tibetan Plateau in China employing an analytical framework to understand local climate adaptation processes. We concluded that LEK and community-based institutions improve adaptation outcomes for Tibetan pastoralists through shaping and mobilizing resource availability to reduce risks. Higher-level institutions and policies contribute by providing resources from outside communities. There are dynamic interrelationships among these factors that can lead to support, conflict, and fragmentation. Government policy could enhance local adaptation through improvement of supportive relationships among these factors. While central government policies allow only limited room for overt integration of local knowledge/institutions, local governments often have some flexibility to buffer conflicts. In addition, government policies to support market-based economic development have greatly benefited adaptation outcomes for pastoralists. Overall, in China, there are still questions over how to create innovative institutions that blend LEK and community-based institutions with government policy making.

PurposeChina has become the world’s largest vehicle market, because of the strong governmental support to boost car sales and particularly because of the establishment of joint ventures between state-owned enterprises and world-class automakers. However, because many Sino-foreign joint ventures have performed unsatisfactorily in terms of creating indigenous brands, the purpose of this paper is to explore the cause-and-effect relationships among governmental policy support, Sino-foreign joint ventures and own-brand innovation in China’s passenger-car industry.Design/methodology/approachAfter briefly introducing the development history of the Chinese auto industry and reviewing relevant literature, first, the analytic hierarchy process method is used to create a unique, context-specific equation to measure the degree of policy support in China. This paper then uses the hierarchical multiple regression method to process the 2014 public data set.FindingsThe findings show that the degree of policy support increases the preference of the firms for producing foreign-brand cars, while such a relationship is fully mediated by the establishment of Sino-foreign joint ventures.Research limitations/implicationsThe research brings greater and deeper insights into the interplay among governmental policy, the conduct of own-brand strategy and international joint ventures in China’s auto market, showing that policy support may not always be beneficial, but sometimes be detrimental to indigenous innovation.Originality/valueThis paper can be seen as an exciting step that adds to a better understanding of the role of political support in shaping the strategic choices of firms in terms of brand innovation in the Chinese automobile industry. The proposed novel, context-specific approach for evaluating the degree of policy support embodies the distinctive institutional complexity and intricate social network embedded in the local car market during the period of China’s socio-economic transformation – an approach that is original in this field.

This study explores effective strategies in developing literacy and numeracy of grade V elementary school students in Indonesia. The research method uses a literature study that analyzes various articles, books, and reports related to government policies on strengthening literacy and numeracy. The data sources in this study come from scientific journals, reference books, research reports, and relevant government policy documents. The data collection technique involves searching literature through academic databases, digital libraries, and official government websites. Data analysis is carried out using the content analysis method, where the collected data is categorized and evaluated to identify key themes and effective strategies. The results showed that project-based teaching methods, thematic learning, and the use of educational technology can significantly improve students' literacy skills. In addition, problem-based learning methods, contextual learning, and the use of educational games and manipulative aids are effective in increasing student numeracy. Teacher training and professional development as well as government policy support such as the National Literacy Movement, School Literacy Movement, Minimum Competency Assessment, and Merdeka Belajar curriculum also play an important role in the success of these strategies. The excellence of this article lies in the comprehensive analysis and integration of various innovative teaching strategies, as well as the emphasis on ongoing policy support. In conclusion, continuous support from various parties is needed to ensure the improvement of the quality of student literacy and numeracy education in Indonesia.

The Jalandhar district in Punjab is one of India's noted manufacturing clusters for the sports goods industry due to its historical significance in international trade. Recently, the industry has experienced new windows of opportunity and challenge due to globalization, sustainability, and changing government policies. This study examines how the three main factors of globalization, sustainability, and government policies impact the export business of the sports goods SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in Jalandhar. The opening up of new markets due to globalization is often accompanied by tough competition from international producers, in particular, low-cost producers from China and Pakistan. While providing a gateway to new markets, globalization also brings stringent standards for compliance with environmental and ethical production norms. These standards, set by global players, create additional barriers for the region's traditional and semi-formal enterprises. The study's main goal was to analyze the impact of globalization on export growth, evaluate the extent of sustainability adoption, and assess the perceived effectiveness of government support frameworks. In this regard, a questionnaire with 30 items was administered to a sample of 300 manufacturers from production clusters such as Football Chowk, Basti Sheikh, Leather Complex, and Nakodar Road. The analysis of the data was conducted through frequency distribution, cross-tabulation, Pearson Chi-square, and ANOVA tests utilizing SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The sample had a wide industry representation ranging from exporters, production managers to unit owners. From the descriptive analysis, we found that while a large segment of respondents believed that globalization has fostered new opportunities, this was not the case for everyone. Numerous small manufacturers still face challenges with regard to pricing flexibility, compliance, and global visibility. Even with programs like “Make in India” and other MSME initiatives, a substantial proportion of participants reported feeling low awareness, complicated procedures, and restrictiveness regard policy support which left them feeling disconnected. Remarkably, the Pearson correlation findings indicated a weak positive relationship between the level of government policy support and export volume. This means that while there are policy frameworks designed to support exports, they are not viewed as primary drivers of growth by most stakeholders, who tend to focus on market forces and internal innovations instead.