Avsnitt
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Ferreira-Pereira, L. C., & Mourato Pinto, J. (2024). EU Soft Power in Lusophone Africa Amidst the Chinese Challenge: Delving into the Erasmus Programme in Angola and Cabo Verde. In The Palgrave Handbook on China-Europe-Africa Relations (pp. 697–724). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-5640-7_34
This episode examines the role of the Erasmus+ program as a soft power tool for the European Union (EU) in Africa, focusing on Angola and Cape Verde. Soft power refers to the ability to influence others through persuasion rather than coercion. The EU leverages higher education to enhance its global influence, with Erasmus+ evolving from a domestic initiative into an external policy instrument promoting European values.
China's growing presence in Africa, with its debt-dependent investment model, challenges EU influence. In response, the EU launched the Global Gateway initiative, fostering value-based cooperation. While historically tied to Africa through colonialism, the EU has transitioned from being the continent's largest donor to building partnerships of equals. Erasmus+ plays a key role by fostering student and academic mobility and supporting capacity-building projects.
The episode discusses Erasmus+ milestones, its impact on African education, and its specific contributions in Angola and Cape Verde. Despite challenges, the program strengthens EU-Africa relations, countering China's influence and promoting democratic cooperation.
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Tejedo-Romero, F., Araujo, J. F. F. E., Tejada, Á., & Ramírez, Y. (2022). E-government mechanisms to enhance the participation of citizens and society: Exploratory analysis through the dimension of municipalities. Technology in Society, 70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101978
This episode explores how Portuguese local governments use online media to enhance municipal transparency and citizen participation. The study analyzes trends in e-government development and assesses whether municipality size influences information disclosure and participation levels. Findings show that municipalities have increasingly adopted online initiatives, with transparency indicators improving over time. However, participation mechanisms remain less developed, especially in smaller municipalities. Larger municipalities tend to provide better information access, offer more online services, and establish stronger citizen interaction channels.
Key insights highlight the dominance of information-sharing over interactive participation tools, with social media links available in 90% of municipalities but more advanced tools, such as administrative procedure systems, limited to larger ones. Transparency and participation indices positively correlate with municipal size, reflecting greater public demand and political visibility. The episode emphasizes the need for national policies to standardize transparency levels and enhance e-government systems, particularly in smaller municipalities, fostering accountability and democratic renewal.
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Tejedo-Romero, F., & Araujo, J. F. F. E. (2022). The influence of corporate governance characteristics on human capital disclosure: the moderating role of managerial ownership. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 23(2), 342–374. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-03-2019-0055
This episode examines the disclosure of human capital information by Spanish companies from 2007 to 2016. It integrates intellectual capital and social responsibility frameworks to assess how companies report on human capital, highlighting their adaptation to new regulations and voluntary efforts to signal responsibility toward employees and stakeholders. The study analyzes the influence of board structure, composition, and functioning on disclosure practices, with managerial ownership acting as a moderating factor aligning interests. Key findings reveal that human capital disclosure supports stakeholder decision-making, while corporate governance impacts information policies. Spanish companies increased disclosure after 2014 in anticipation of the EU Directive 2014/95/EU. Training and development were prioritized, while work-related knowledge received less attention. Gender diversity positively influenced disclosure, whereas independent boards showed a negative effect, suggesting a substitution dynamic. The episode explores practical, social, and policy implications, emphasizing mandatory regulations and governance reforms to enhance human capital transparency.
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Tejedo-Romero, F.; Araujo, J.F.F.E. (2021). Análisis comparado de la política de trans-parencia en los municipios Ibéricos. Revista Española de Documentación Científica, 44 (4), e309. https://doi.org/ 10.3989/redc.2021.4.1790
This episode explores the evolution of transparency policies in Iberian municipalities, comparing Spain and Portugal. Both countries share similar constitutional foundations for access to administrative information, initially adopting reactive transparency models that later evolved into proactive online disclosure. European directives influenced their alignment with international transparency standards. Key differences emerge in legislative dynamics and transparency levels. Spain implemented regulations earlier and more progressively, joining the Open Government Partnership in 2011 and adopting active transparency laws sooner. Spanish municipalities also scored higher on Transparency Indexes (ITM) than Portuguese ones. Using ITM data from 2008–2017 for Spain and 2013–2017 for Portugal, the study reveals that financial information is most disclosed, while public procurement data lags. Despite variations, transparency improved in both nations, with Spain serving as a model for Portugal. This theme reflects on legislative impacts, historical factors, and lessons for enhancing municipal transparency across borders.
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Paschoalotto, M. A. C., Lazzari, E. A., Rocha, R., Massuda, A., & Castro, M. C. (2023). Health systems resilience: is it time to revisit resilience after COVID-19? Social Science and Medicine, 320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115716
This episode examines the resilience of health systems in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on a literature review and interviews with 26 experts, it highlights key advances in defining resilience, emphasizing its contextual dependence and adaptability to crises. The four stages of resilience—preparedness, alert, impact, and recovery—are reimagined as an adaptive system, with decision-making and management capacity at its core. A new framework connects technology and information systems to all resilience dimensions, enabling more effective responses. The episode also explores differences in resilience implementation between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, with resources and technological capacities as key factors. Finally, it discusses challenges in implementing resilience frameworks, stressing the importance of community engagement, political support, and clear narratives to strengthen health systems against future shocks. This theme reflects on lessons learned and proposes pathways to more robust and adaptable healthcare systems worldwide.
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Deslatte, A., Szmigiel-Rawska, K., Tavares, A. F., Ślawska, J., Karsznia, I., & Łukomska, J. (2022). Land use institutions and social-ecological systems: A spatial analysis of local landscape changes in Poland. Land Use Policy, 114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105937
This episode examines landscape transformation in Poland to understand how governance and resource systems interact within evolving institutional contexts. Urban land-use patterns are viewed as integrated human-natural systems, where changes in human settlements, such as population density, wealth, and political institutions, can degrade natural systems, while ecological decline similarly impacts human well-being and sustainability.
Using a socioecological systems (SES) approach, the study draws on Logan and Molotch's (1987) growth machine thesis, emphasizing coalitions of politicians and business leaders driving urban development. Focusing on Poland's transition from Soviet-style central planning to Westernized capitalist approaches, the research analyzes 12 years of land-use changes with spatial Durbin error models and Corine Land Cover data.
Key findings include: local executive autonomy fostering development, farmer representation reducing transaction costs in governance, and municipal wealth mediating pro-development landscape shifts. Historical and adjacent land-use changes also influence outcomes. The study highlights SES frameworks as valuable for cross-national research on land-use dynamics.
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Tavares, A. F., Camões, P. J., & Martins, J. (2023). Joining the open government partnership initiative: An empirical analysis of diffusion effects. Government Information Quarterly, 40(2).https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2022.101789
This episode explores the global adoption of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), analyzing data from 175 countries over a decade (2010-2018). The study argues that OGP participation results from policy diffusion processes, influenced by regional proximity, cultural and governmental similarities, and international organization membership. While democracies are more likely to join, autocracies also participate when peers in their group do, highlighting the complexity of regime characteristics in shaping open government policies.
Four diffusion mechanisms—learning, competition, coercion, and social emulation—are examined. Learning involves rational policy adoption for expected benefits, while competition relates to economic policies. Coercion arises from pressures by organizations like the IMF or UN, and social emulation reflects the adoption of policies deemed progressive.
The study finds all four mechanisms relevant and shows that Freedom of Information legislation correlates with OGP participation. It calls for stronger OGP leadership to attract non-members and further research on substantive policy changes under OGP frameworks.
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Joaquim Filipe Ferraz Esteves Araujo & Francisca Tejedo-Romero (2018) Does Gender Equality Affect Municipal Transparency: The Case of Spain, Public Performance &Management Review, 41:1, 69-99, DOI:10.1080/15309576.2017.1362350
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Tejedo-Romero, F., & Ferraz Esteves Araujo, J. F. (2023). Critical factors influencing information disclosure in public organisations. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01814-8
This episode investigates the factors influencing information disclosure in Portuguese municipalities, analyzing data from 308 municipalities between 2013 and 2016. Using the Information Disclosure Index (IDI) by Transparência e Integridade (TIAC) as a measure, the study explores variables like Internet access, municipal wealth, financial independence, debt-to-income ratio, voter turnout, political ideology, and electoral cycles.
Results show a rise in disclosure over time, supporting agency theory, where governments increase transparency to reduce information asymmetry and build trust. Internet access and debt ratios emerged as critical factors, with higher Internet penetration aligning with legitimacy theory. Municipalities led by left-wing parties disclosed more, reflecting the need to justify interventionist policies.
Election years drive increased transparency, possibly to influence voters, while wealth and financial independence showed no significant link, highlighting contextual nuances. This episode underscores the political role in fostering transparency and offers insights for policymakers to enhance public access to information.
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Tejedo-Romero, F., Rodrigues, M., & Araujo, J. F. F. E. (2023). How far is municipal transparency from neighbours? Evidence from Spain and Portugal. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 36(3), 193–215. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-01-2022-0026
This episode explores municipal transparency in Portugal and Spain, analyzing how legal, institutional, and political factors shape their approaches to transparency. Both countries, with similar politico-administrative contexts, respond to the "name and shame" dynamic introduced by the Municipal Transparency Index (ITM). The study employs neo-institutional and legitimacy theories to investigate ITM evolution and its influencing factors.
Findings reveal parallels in transparency efforts across Iberian municipalities. Freedom of Information (FOI) laws and "name and shame" mechanisms positively impact transparency, while provincial capital status yields divergent effects. Political factors like electoral turnout negatively influence transparency, as low participation drives officials to enhance legitimacy. Political strength has contrasting effects: majority governments reduce transparency in Spain but not in Portugal. Notably, left-leaning mayors in Portugal disclose more information.
While population size consistently affects transparency, differences in ITM methodologies and transparency measurement present study limitations. This episode offers valuable insights for policymakers navigating transparency reforms in Iberia.
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Francisca Tejedo-Romero & Joaquim Filipe Ferraz Esteves Araujo (2020) Egovernment-enabled transparency: The effect of electoral aspects and citizen’s access to Internet on information disclosure, Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 17:3, 268-290, DOI:10.1080/19331681.2020.1713958
This podcast explores the factors influencing municipal transparency in Portuguese municipalities, focusing on political and social conditions. Using a panel data analysis of all 308 municipalities, the study highlights key determinants such as political ideology, voter turnout, election proximity, citizens' Internet access, and geographic location. The findings reveal significant progress in municipal transparency through online platforms, supported by a 76-indicator transparency index measuring the availability of information on municipal websites.
The study underscores the critical role of Internet access in driving higher transparency levels, reflecting growing political awareness of citizens' demands for openness. It argues that enhanced transparency through e-government stems from proactive governance, political attributes, and contextual factors. Institutional changes, particularly ICT-driven modernization and e-government initiatives, have expanded citizens' access to online information, positively impacting municipal transparency. This episode delves into these insights, offering a nuanced understanding of how technological and political dynamics shape government accountability.
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Deslatte, A., Szmigiel-Rawska, K., Tavares, A. F., Ślawska, J., Karsznia, I., & Łukomska, J. (2022). Land use institutions and social-ecological systems: A spatial analysis of local landscape changes in Poland. Land Use Policy, 114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105937
This episode explores landscape change in Poland to understand how governance and resource systems shape urban development. Using the socio-ecological systems (SES) framework, the study examines land-use patterns within a transition from a Soviet-style centralized model to a capitalist approach. Data from the Corine Land Cover database reveal that the autonomy granted to local governments drives urban development but also exacerbates challenges like urban sprawl and environmental degradation.
The study highlights the lack of comprehensive planning in Poland, with only 30% of the territory covered by local plans, and recommends national legislation to promote more sustainable land-use management. It concludes that interdisciplinary knowledge integration is essential to mitigate the negative impacts of urban growth on the biosphere and enhance the sustainability of human communities.
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Brekke, K. R., Siciliani, L., & Straume, O. R. (2024). Competition, quality and integrated health care. Journal of Health Economics, 95, 102880. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2024.102880
This study examines the effects of integrated healthcare on treatment quality, using a model where providers compete on quality under regulated prices. Integration has mixed effects: it reduces competition by making demand less responsive to quality but increases patient value due to bundled services. The study finds integration doesn’t always improve quality and may lead to quality divergence or convergence, affecting patient outcomes. Cost asymmetries between services or providers further complicate these effects. Integration is beneficial when cost synergies exist but may cause inefficiencies if providers excel in some services but not others. Policies promoting integration should consider service-specific characteristics, as partial integration often results in lower quality. Integration is most favorable when synergies exist or financial incentives are weak and less favorable with strong incentives and quality variations. The study highlights the need for careful evaluation of integrated care policies to balance competition and integration for optimal healthcare outcomes.
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Loureiro, Gilberto R. and Mendonça, Cesar (2024) "Do Large Registered Investment Funds Undermine Shareholder Activism? Evidence from Hedge Fund Proposals." Journal of Banking and Finance. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4361663
### Summary in English (150 words)
This study examines the voting behavior of Registered Investment Funds (Mutual Funds, ETFs, and Closed-End Funds) on shareholder proposals, focusing on Hedge Fund proposals, a common vehicle for value-oriented shareholder activism. Using Proxy Insight data from 2010 to 2020, the findings show that Registered Funds support Hedge Fund proposals at lower rates—4 percentage points less than other investors, increasing to 10 points for proposals more contentious to company management. Overall support for Hedge Fund proposals is higher (39.5%) compared to non-hedge proposals (32.6%). The study reveals that the ten largest fund families significantly influence passive funds' voting behavior, reducing support for activist proposals by 18 percentage points on average. This suggests that the growing ownership concentration by large Registered Funds diminishes overall support for shareholder activism via Hedge Fund proposals. Consequently, Registered Funds, especially those controlled by major groups, may be less effective monitors, impacting corporate governance and shareholder value negatively.
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S. Sadic, E. Demir, J. Crispim (2024) "Towards a connected world: Collaborative networks as a tool to accomplish the SDGs" Journal of Cleaner Production, 462, 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142726
This article examines factors influencing the re-election prospects of Brazilian mayors, focusing on local expenditure management, the candidacy of term-limited former mayors, and literacy rates. Using data from 5,114 municipalities across four elections (2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020), the study finds that opportunistic spending and higher average investments increase re-election chances. The candidacy of a term-limited former mayor decreases the current mayor's re-election likelihood, highlighting the significance of prior experience held by opposition candidates. Voter memory extends to previous mayors' investment spending, negatively affecting the incumbent's prospects. Literacy rates shape voter attitudes: less-educated voters reward increased current expenditures, while more-educated populations favor investment spending. These findings provide insights into political budget cycles, incumbent advantages, and the role of education in political accountability. The study focuses on Brazilian municipal elections, and future research could explore service quality, candidate characteristics, and media influence on voter attitudes toward fiscal policy management.
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Lautenschlage, J., Veiga, L. G., & Veiga, F. J. (2024). The effects of fiscal policy management, candidacy of previous mayors, and illiteracy on mayoral reelection in Brazil. Economics & Politics, 36, 1345–1381. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecpo.12290
### Summary in English (150 words)
This article examines factors influencing the re-election prospects of Brazilian mayors, focusing on local expenditure management, the candidacy of term-limited former mayors, and literacy rates. Using data from 5,114 municipalities across four elections (2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020), the study finds that opportunistic spending and higher average investments increase re-election chances. The candidacy of a term-limited former mayor decreases the current mayor's re-election likelihood, highlighting the significance of prior experience held by opposition candidates. Voter memory extends to previous mayors' investment spending, negatively affecting the incumbent's prospects. Literacy rates shape voter attitudes: less-educated voters reward increased current expenditures, while more-educated populations favor investment spending. These findings provide insights into political budget cycles, incumbent advantages, and the role of education in political accountability. The study focuses on Brazilian municipal elections, and future research could explore service quality, candidate characteristics, and media influence on voter attitudes toward fiscal policy management.
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Ahmed H. Elsayed & Ricardo M. Sousa (2024) International monetary policy and cryptocurrency markets: dynamic and spillover effects, The European Journal of Finance, 30:16, 1855-1875
The study examines the dynamic interconnections between international monetary policies (U.S., Eurozone, Japan, UK) and major cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple) from August 2013 to September 2019. Using a TVP-VAR model and network analysis, it finds significant links between cryptocurrencies and between monetary policies, though spillovers between monetary policies and cryptocurrencies are limited. These interconnections intensify during periods of unconventional policies, like QE and negative rates. The results suggest cryptocurrencies offer diversification benefits for investors and highlight the need for international coordination in monetary policy. The study provides insights for both investors and policymakers in managing financial risks and opportunities.
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Ngoy, E., Sá, C. & Veiga, P. Exploring socioeconomic-related inequality in children’s cognitive achievement in Peru. J Econ Inequal 22, 809–832 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10888-023-09615-4
In this episode, we explore how socioeconomic inequality impacts children's linguistic development in Peru. Using data from the Young Lives study, we discuss how socioeconomic status influences performance and the importance of early interventions to reduce disparities and promote equal opportunities.
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Ribeiro, B. F. G., Rodrigues, M. Â., & Tejedo-Romero, F. (2024). A step forward to gender equality: Breaking the political glass ceiling at local level. Governance. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12902
O estudo investiga os fatores que impulsionam a eleição de mulheres para conselhos municipais em Portugal, analisando barreiras que persistem além das quotas de género. A dependência da trajetória revela que partidos com histórico de promoção à igualdade, como PS e BE, e municípios com líderes femininas anteriores favorecem a eleição de mais mulheres. A teoria do contágio mostra que ambientes competitivos incentivam a diversidade, com partidos maiores seguindo ações inovadoras de partidos menores. Conclui-se que as quotas, embora importantes, precisam ser complementadas por compromissos partidários e contextos eleitorais favoráveis.
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