Conference Agenda

Problem Statement and Purpose

Energy is an important component of national economy and is vital to national economic development. The key to guarantee energy system operating well lies in enhancing the resilience of the energy system so that it can quickly recover and adapt when faced with the risk of perturbation.

The market is the link between production and consumption, and market-oriented reform as a means to make full use of market competition and price discovery mechanisms to regulate supply and demand, allocate resources and force innovation can effectively optimize the system structure and improve the resilience of the energy system.

As a representative of market-oriented reform, the carbon emissions trading market is a systematic innovation that uses carbon emission rights as the subject of trading, and applies market mechanisms to promote emission reduction by participating enterprises and the green and low-carbon transformation of society.

Therefore, this paper investigates whether and how market-oriented reform impacts the resilience of energy system.

Methodology

This paper constructs an index system based on the concept of energy system resilience, measures the energy system resilience scores of 30 provinces and cities in China from 2004 to 2020 using the EWM-TOPSIS method, and examines the impact of the carbon emissions trading market on the resilience of the regional energy system by using the Time-varying DID method.

We construct the following benchmark regression model（1）:

ER_Score𝑖𝑡= α+βCBM𝑖𝑡+θ𝐗it+μi+γt+εit (1)

where ER_Score𝑖𝑡 is the dependent variable, representing the energy system resilience of provinces or cities i in year t. CBMit is the independent variable, which Indicates whether carbon emissions trading market will be launched. In this paper, we select the keywords related to energy system resilience to mitigate the problem of other interfering factors and omitted variables. 𝐗it are control variables, including industrial structure, level of economic development, climate change (rainfall and temperature), share of state-owned economy, level of marketization.

We also construct the following mediation effect model (2):

Media_Var𝑖𝑡=α+aCBM𝑖𝑡+θ𝐗it+μi+γt+εit (2)

Where Media_Var𝑖𝑡 is a mediator variable，Replace with four variables that reflect energy investment, energy efficiency, green finance, and green technology innovation in sequence. The remaining variables are defined the same as in model (1).

Findings

1.The results of model (1) confirm that market-oriented reform has a positive effect on energy system resilience. The positive effect continues to be emphasized from the second year after the start of the pilot. Compared with non-pilot regions, the carbon emissions trading market increased the energy system resilience of pilot regions by 1.10%.

2.The results of model (2) show that carbon emissions trading market plays a role in enhancing the resilience of the energy system through four main channels: improving energy investment, energy efficiency, promoting green financial development and green technological innovation.

Proposals

This paper proposes that, firstly, to deepen the market-oriented reform in the energy sector and expand the capacity of the national carbon market. We will deepen market-oriented reforms in key energy sectors and key links, ensure the continuity of energy market-oriented reforms, and release long-term policy dividends. Secondly, to unblock the channels of action and taking multiple measures to improve the resilience of regional energy system.

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Problem Statement and Purpose

1.Problem statement

Volunteer supply is a crucial mode of service provision that complements government and market supply. While recruiting volunteers has been effective in enhancing service availability and quality in communities, long-term observations reveal divergent outcomes for these activities. This study aims to explore how incentive mechanisms and the public nature of services impact the stability and sustainability of volunteer initiatives. What factors influence the stability and sustainability of community volunteer services, particularly in relation to incentive mechanisms and the public nature of the services provided?

2.purpose

Existing research presents conflicting views on whether cash subsidies enhance or undermine volunteer motivation. Through longitudinal tracking and analysis of multiple Chinese community volunteer activities, this study seeks to provide a typological analysis of incentive mechanisms tailored to different types of products or services, offering practical guidance for community practices.

Methodology

Employing a multi-case research approach, this study utilizes second-hand data research, tracking observation, deep interviews, among other methods. By comparing five rural and urban community cases in China, it identifies similarities and differences within case units to construct theoretical frameworks.

Findings

The need for cash subsidies for volunteer services is closely related to the public nature of provided service products.

For security-related public goods such as emergency response or rural security patrol, non-cash incentives are less effective than cash subsidies.

Cash subsidy design can enhance stability when providing club products like parking management; lack thereof may lead to unsustainable self-organized volunteer services replaced by government or market supply.

Proposals

Community recruitment strategies should tailor incentive schemes based on product publicness. For subsidized programs - consensus-building among residents regarding subsidy boundaries is essential. For non-subsidized programs - increased promotion efforts alongside diverse non-cash incentives are recommended. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into designing effective incentive mechanisms for sustaining community-based volunteer initiatives while contributing nuanced evidence supporting motivational theories within Chinese contexts.

References

Marc A. Musick, John Wilson. Volunteers: A Social Profile. Bloomington : Indiana University Press, c2008.

Lester M. Salamon. Partners in Public Service：Government-Nonprofit Relations in the Modern Welfare State. The Johns Hopkins University Press,1995.

James M.Buchanan，Jr.An Economic Theory of Clubs. Economica, New Series, Vol. 32, No. 125 (Feb., 1965),pp.1-14.

Problem Statement and Purpose

Problem Statement

Even if effective municipal expenditure management enhances wastes minimisation and redirection of financial resources to priority areas, empirical evidence still reiterates South African municipalities’ expenditure management to be characterised by irregular, fruitless, wasteful and unauthorised expenditures as well as overspending of capital expenditure budgets. To mitigate such challenges, government has attempted to improve skillfulness of municipal financial personnel, compliance with National Treasury’s norms and ratios for expenditure management and financial risk management.

Purpose

Even in the midst of such measures, most municipal expenditure management approaches still continue to be punctuated by irregular, fruitless, wasteful and unauthorised expenditures as well as year-in and year-out qualified audit reports. It is in that context that this research uses content analysis to critically analyse the existing theories vis-à-vis expenditure management approaches in South African municipalities so as to extract a more holistic framework that can be used to improve municipal expenditure management.

Methodology

Whilst using critical content analysis, the paper evaluated and compared theories on municipal expenditure management with the expenditure management approaches in South African municipalities to discern the areas of challenges that need improvement.

Findings

Findings imply that to address the existing municipal expenditure management challenges, municipalities must not only improve municipal financial personnel’s skillfulness, National Treasury’s norms and ratios for expenditure management and financial risk management, but also improve enforceability of compliance with Auditor-General’s recommendations. The framework also suggests need for entrenchment of ethics, morals and professionalism of municipal financial officials, good governance to limit financial mismanagement and corruption, asset and debt management, verification and expenditure control

Proposals

Besides fiscal discipline, allocative efficiency and cost effectiveness as municipal expenditure management best practices, participatory-budgeting must also be used to involve local communities in monitoring municipal expenditures. Such a comprehensive framework will not only bolster sound financial management to leverage effective expenditure management, but also improve municipal financial sustainability.

References

Ambe, I. & Badenhorst-Weiss, J.A. 2012. Procurement challenges in the South African Public Sector. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, 63(116):242–262.

Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. 2017. Evaluating the implementation of Back to Basics Programme Report. Pretoria: Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Rabotapi, M.J. 2013. Budgetary control as a mechanism for promoting good governance and public expenditure managment in the Ngwathe Local Municiaplity. Unpublished Masters dissertation. Vaal Triangle: North West University.

Shah, A. & Von Hagen, J. 2007. Budgeting and budgetary institutions. Herndon, VA: World Bank.

Siswana, B. 2007. Leadership and governance in the South African Public Service: An overview of public finance management system. Unpublished doctoral thesis. Pretoria: University of Pretoria.

South Africa, Republic, 2007. National Treasury Guideline for Municipal Competency Levels. Pretoria: Government Printer.

Steyn, L.S. 2014. Professionalising local government: the implementation of the National Treasury Municipal Regulations on Minimum competency levels. Unpublished Masters Dissertation. Bellville: University of Western Cape.

Problem Statement and Purpose

The digital economy is an important reflection of the comprehensive national strength in the digital era, and it is also an important engine for economic and social development. The roles of the government and the market in driving the development of the digital economy are becoming increasingly prominent. This article aims to analyze the mechanism of the government and the market in promoting the development of the digital economy through studying the relationship between government driving force, marketization, and the development of the digital economy in provincial level.

Methodology

Using provincial-level data from 30 provinces in China from 2014 to 2019, the entropy method was employed to construct and evaluate the government driving force index and the digital economy development index. The mediating effect model was used to test the mediating role of government driving force in promoting the development of the digital economy through marketization. After the tests, the Moran's index was used to examine the spatial autocorrelation of marketization, government driving force, and the development of the digital economy. Subsequently, the spatial Durbin model was used to analyze the spatial spillover effects of the marketization and government driving force subsystems on the development of the digital economy. Finally, the geographical detector was used to verify the impact of the subsystems of marketization on the spatial differentiation of the subsystems of the digital economy development.

Findings

The main conclusions drawn are as follows: (1) The deeper the marketization, the more it can promote the development of the digital economy; (2) Marketization has a positive impact on the development of the digital economy, with government driving forces playing an intermediary role; (3) Marketization shows significant positive spatial correlation at the macro level, while government driving forces and the development of the digital economy show significant local spatial correlation.

Proposals

H1: The higher the degree of marketization, the more it can promote the development of the digital economy.

H2: The driving force of the government is the intermediary variable that promotes the development of the digital economy through marketization.

H3a: The overall spatial correlation of marketization is significant, while the overall spatial correlation of government driving force and digital economic development is not significant.

H3b: The cross-interaction of marketized elements will have a greater impact on the spatial differentiation of digital economic development than a single element.

References

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Problem Statement and Purpose

Problem Statement

Theorised with Public Value Theory and New Public Governance benefitting public interest and health equity, the study focused on challenges impeding efficient cataract surgery service delivery in uMgungundlovu District regarding record-keeping systems, staff capacitation and essential resources for eye health services. Lack of databases tracking patient health records, treatment histories, and waiting lists impact public health service planning. Cataract surgery, a crucial medical intervention, faces substantial backlogs within the South African healthcare system exacerbating plight of individuals awaiting this procedure, contributing to declines in the quality of life of society and a strain on the healthcare system’s capabilities.

Purpose

Public health service delivery in South Africa faces significant challenges, particularly within a fragmented public administration system. In government’s commitment to accessible healthcare, the research aimed to evaluate effectiveness of a public-private health forum in addressing these challenges, as well as inequities in eye health service delivery at district level. The research centred on barriers, governance and management approaches and proposed a model for improved district-level engagement. Public-private partnerships are essential to alleviate strains on public healthcare to address cataract surgery backlogs. These collaborations call for expertise and resources of both sectors for innovative and sustained service delivery.

Methodology

uMgungundlovu District in KZN was the location for the study. Participants were from governance and co-ordination of the forum and public health eye services. Textual material consulted consisted of scholarly literature in the public health sector. Inclusion criteria were participants of the eye health forum, district health manager, provincial co-ordinator for eye health services, district head of ophthalmology and organisations known to the Provincial Department of Health. Qualitatively, semi-structured interviews were administered to participants empirically for thematic and content analysis and deductive reasoning. A case study methodology was followed to examine complex relationships, contexts and systems in an ever-changing world.

Findings

Poor service delivery for cataract surgery is ostensibly synonymous with the public sector. Findings indicate pairing both sectors to provide health-related care. Evidently, public health struggles with chronic skilled staff shortages including understaffed hospitals to oversee health delivery. Absence of a designated directorate for eye health, and poor understanding in technical and clinical indications for service delivery mechanisms led to time and resource allocation delays as significant findings. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted hospitals to shut down some sections for prolonged periods of time. Mismanagement of funds, lack of equipment servicing, and limited resources were major problems impeding sustainable service delivery.

Proposals

Eye health service delivery is complex and specialised, involving data generation covering both patient medicals and operational information from various stages of care. Critical bottlenecks in care pathways differ between and within districts and municipalities. A collaborative approach ensures evidential decision-making, promoting more comprehensive and well-informed outcomes, especially for public health services. Community engagement amongst others, was identified as an important aspect with positive outcomes for the forum. An evidence-based model for eye health service delivery speaks to this link provincially, and was proposed to achieve universal health outcomes fulfilling strategic intents of the NDP and SDG goals of 2030.

References

Majid, H and Subban, M. (2021). Human resources challenges related to the delivery of eye health care services in South Africa: A narrative review. 2021. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Social Sciences (SSIRC). e-ISBN 978-0-620-96741-9(e-book).

South African Medical Association. (2015). Submission to Minister of Health, National Department of Health Comments in respect of White Paper for National Health Insurance for South Africa: Towards universal coverage. Pretoria. Available at https://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/f447b607-3c8f-4eb7-8da4-11bca747079f/00105160.pdf Accessed on 16 May 2023.

South African National Development Plan. (2021). NDP 2030: Our future - make it work NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2030 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. Available at: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/Executive%20Summary-NDP%202030. Accessed on 22 August 2021.