The Limits of Power Concentration and Expert Knowledge in Emergency Management: Spain's Government Response during the First Phase of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Focusing on the central government's response to the Covid-19 crisis during the first wave in Spain, the article analyses the executive's strategy of power concentration, and the factors that shape its implementation. We sketch how the crisis erupted, the main measures and strategies adopted by the national executive, the role of the experts, and the interaction with other political actors and institutions. We also explore the second phase and how the political reaction evolved towards a more consensual approach. Paradoxically, the consequences for the political actors were apparently less harmful than expected, since the governments did not lose political support, and the electorate continued to support the policy measures adopted to mitigate the pandemic.

Children's Digital Privacy and the Case Against Parental Consent

Children's engagement with the internet has exploded. From education to social media, companies have offered products and services that-far from being mere distractions for children-have increasingly become necessities. These necessities are most keenly felt in the EdTech world. As companies in the United States rely on the verifiable parental consent required by the Children 's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) to collect and use minors' data, reviewing boilerplate waivers of liability and consent forms for children's online activities has thus become part of parenting. This piece argues that under the common law tradition of protecting the best interests of the child, when it comes to protecting children's digital privacy, relying solely on parental consent is insufficient and ill-suited. This work compares parental consent forms for children's online activities to parental waivers for tort liability for physical injuries suffered by children. In the latter, courts have not reached a consensus on whether such contracts are enforceable or altogether void. However, most courts have struck down such waivers as against public policy in commercial settings. By relying on courts ' decisions regarding the role of parents in protecting the best interests of the child when faced with a child's physical injury, this piece argues that public policy should have to force to override parental consent as it pertains to the protection of a minor's digital privacy and their use of EdTech tools. It thus encourages lawmakers at the federal and state levels to move away from a parental consent apparatus and instead put forward new measures for the protection of children's digital privacy. It further illustrates that, despite COPPA, common law privacy torts are not fully preempted. Adopting the approach proposed in this work will also motivate companies to be more vigilant towards handling minors' data to avoid potential lawsuits. It will further encourage a market for competition between socially responsible companies that would prioritize children's privacy over an endless list of corporate interests.

Research progress on factors, risk assessment, and prevention strategies associated with SARS-CoV-2 survival in food and media.

This paper presented a brief introduction to the outbreak process and symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), elucidated the detection methods and transmission modes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that caused the disease, and summarized the survival time of SARS-COV-2 in different media and different physical and chemical conditions and factors that could affect the long-term survival of the virus. This paper also summed up current risk assessments of SARS-COV-2 in food safety conducted in various countries, and concluded that the risk of SARS-COV-2 to food safety is very low, but preventive measures are still in need after referring to latest research. Finally, some methods to prevent SARS-COV-2 contamination in food were introduced, aiming to provide a basis for the formulation of policy measures in the future.Copyright © 2021, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention. All rights reserved.

Online Threats vs. Mitigation Efforts: Keeping Children Safe in the Era of Online Learning

As the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in school closures since early 2020, children have spent more time online through virtual classrooms using educational technology (EdTech) and videoconferencing applications. This increased presence of children online exposes them to more risk of cyber threats. Here, we present a review of the current research and policies to protect children while online. We seek to answer four key questions: what are the online threats against children when learning online, what is known about children's cybersecurity awareness, what government policies and recommendations are implemented and proposed to protect children online, and what are the proposed and existing efforts to teach cybersecurity to childrenƒ Our study emphasizes the online risks to children and the importance of protective government policies and educational initiatives that give kids the knowledge and empowerment to protect themselves online. © 2023 IEEE.

(In)segurança alimentar e agricultura familiar: políticas públicas como estratégia de superação da fome

32 milhões de brasileiros sofriam com a fome na década de 1990. Para dirimir este problema a implantação de políticas públicas de fomento à agricultura familiar no País foi uma das ações mais eficazes. Desde 2015, os recursos destinados a tais políticas reduziram drasticamente, gerando descontinuidade no fornecimento de alimentos a entidades e usuárias(os) dos programas, perdas na renda de agricultoras(es) e insegurança alimentar, situações agravadas com a pandemia de Covid-19. Partindo dos conceitos de segurança alimentar, agricultura familiar e políticas públicas, este artigo objetiva compreender os rebatimentos do desinvestimento das políticas públicas e da pandemia no cotidiano de agricultoras(es) familiares de Barbalha-CE. Prosseguiu-se com o exame de documentos públicos, entrevistas, observações e conversas no cotidiano com agricultoras(es), cujos dados foram compreendidos a partir da análise de práticas discursivas. Os resultados assinalam dificuldades das(os) trabalhadoras(es) em acessar serviços públicos, produzir, comercializar e garantir a segurança alimentar de suas famílias.Alternate :32 million Brazilians suffered from hunger in the 1990s. To solve this problem, the implementation of public policies to promote family farming in the country was one of the most effective actions. Since 2015, the resources allocated to such policies have drastically reduced, generating discontinuity in the supply of food to entities and users of the programs, losses in the income of farmers and food insecurity, situations aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on the concepts of food security, family farming and public policies, this article aims to understand the repercussions of the divestment of public policies and the pandemic in the daily lives of family farmers in Barbalha-CE. We continued with the examination of public documents, interviews, observations and daily conversations with female farmers, whose data were understood from the analysis of discursive practices. The results point out the difficulties of the workers in accessing public services, producing, marketing and guaranteeing the food security of their families.

Alcohol consumption among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, ConVid Adolescents - Behavior Research

Objective: To describe the prevalence of alcohol consumption before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze the factors associated with this behavior during the period of social distancing among Brazilian adolescents. Method(s): Cross-sectional study using data from the ConVid Adolescents survey, carried out via the Internet between June and September 2020. The prevalence of alcohol consumption before and during the pandemic, as well as association with sociodemographic variables, mental health, and lifestyle were estimated. A logistic regression model was used to assess associated factors. Result(s): 9,470 adolescents were evaluated. Alcohol consumption decreased from 17.70% (95%CI 16.64-18.85) before the pandemic to 12.80% (95%CI 11.85-13.76) during the pandemic. Alcohol consumption was associated with the age group of 16 and 17 years (OR=2.9;95%CI 1.08-1.53), place of residence in the South (OR=1.82;95%CI 1.46-2.27) and Southeast regions (OR=1.33;95%CI 1.05-1.69), having three or more close friends (OR=1.78;95%CI 1.25-2.53), reporting worsening sleep problems during the pandemic (OR=1.59;95%CI 1.20-2.11), feeling sad sometimes (OR=1,83;95%CI 1,40-2,38) and always (OR=2.27;95%CI 1.70-3.05), feeling always irritated (OR=1,60;95%CI 1,14-2,25), being a smoker (OR=13,74;95%CI 8.63-21.87) and a passive smoker (OR=1.76;95%CI 1.42-2.19). Strict adherence to social distancing was associated with lower alcohol consumption (OR=0.40;95%CI 0.32-0.49). Conclusion(s): The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in consumption of alcoholic beverages by Brazilian adolescents, which was influenced by sociodemographic and mental health factors, adherence to social restriction measures and lifestyle in this period. Managers, educators, family and the society must be involved in the articulation of Public Policies to prevent alcohol consumption.Copyright © 2023 A Epidemio e uma publicacao da Associacao Brasileira de Saude Coletiva-ABRASCO.

The Analysis of Dynamic Processes of Virus Transmission: How Could Diagnostic Tests and Vaccinations Can Stop COVID-19 Pandemic?

Objectives: COVID-19 reached its fourth year of pandemic since 2020. The repeated waves of infections have been driven by multiple factors such as pathological traits of variants, diagnostic accuracy, and vaccination conditions. This study revisits and analyzes the dynamic processes of viral transmission to generate new scientific knowledge. Method(s): A cascade model of viral transmission from one case to another was developed, and theoretically analyzed how the number of infected cases at time t, D+[t], can be changed at time t+1, D+[t+1], considering six parameters: 1) k:level of transmission, 2) Rt: effective reproduction number, 3) rho: capture rate of infected cases, 4) theta: immunity protection rate in individuals, 5) epsilon: evasion rate from vaccines, and 6) Sn: test sensitivity. Result(s): The formula which associates D+[t] with D+[t+1] was given as follows: D+[t+1] = K.D+[t], where K = {(1-Sn) + (1-rho) / rho}{1-Rtk (1-theta(1-epsilon))k} / {1-Rt (1-theta(1-epsilon))}. Also, assuming K be smaller than 1, the lower limit of test sensitivity to stop the viral transmission was formulated: Sn > {Rt (1-theta(1-epsilon))-Rtk(1-theta(1-epsilon))k} / {(1-Rtk(1-theta(1-epsilon))k)rho}. In example computations, the formula indicated that a one-off PCR test with the sensitivity of 85% would not be sufficient to contain highly contagious infections such as the Omicron variants, and that it would be practically impossible to control the situation with the immune-evasive sub-variants in circulation. Conclusion(s): The theory developed in this study broadens the science on evidence-based public health and will be useful for outcomes studies and informed decisions on public policy for pandemic control.Copyright © 2023

Effectiveness and supply effects of high-coverage rent control policies

Concerns about housing affordability are widespread in cities worldwide, prompting discussions about rent control policies. This paper studies the effects of a rent control policy adopted in Catalonia in 2020 that applied to some but not all municipalities. The policy virtually covered all the rental market and forced ads and tenancy agreements to specify the applicable rent cap to ensure enforcement. To identify the causal effect of the rent control regulation on the rental market, we exploit register microdata of tenancy agreements and implement difference-in-differences regressions and event-study designs. Our results indicate that the regulation reduced average rents paid by about 4% to 6%. We do not find evidence of a reduction in the supply of rental units, as measured by the number of signed and ended agreements or the active stock of rental units. We implement several robustness tests to address identification concerns related to Covid-19. Our results suggest that rent control policies can effectively reduce rental prices without necessarily shrinking the rental market.

Highlighting the Challenges in the Development, Funding, and Reimbursement of Medical Innovations from a Developer Perspective

Healthcare system is an essential system for any nation as it is responsible for maintaining the health of the individuals and public. However, the outbreak of different viral diseases such as influenza, covid-19 etc. has encouraged medical research in different developing and developed countries. Similarly, in Malaysia, different public and private research centers and biotechnology firms are being promoted to develop new and innovative medical drugs and equipment. However, different challenges are faced by the developers in promoting the development and innovations of medical commodities. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate different challenges in the development, funding, and reimbursement of medical innovations in Malaysia. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 developers from different public research and development (R&D) centers and biotechnology firms in Malaysia. After the interviews were conducted, their edited transcription was obtained, and thematic analysis was conducted, and different themes and sub-themes were formulated. The results obtained from this study showed that the lack of innovative environment, strategic compliances and effective funding structure negatively influences medical innovations in Malaysia. It has also been observed that poor reimbursement practices and policies and lack of pricing strategies by the Malaysian government impacts the ROI of the associated firms and developers. Thus, it has been recommended that mega-funds and reimbursement policies should be promoted to overcome these challenges in medical innovations.Copyright © 2023 ThinkBiotech LLC. All rights reserved.

Dangerous liaisons? Applying the social harm perspective to the social inequality, housing and health trifecta during the Covid-19 pandemic

Global rates of excess mortality attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic provide a fresh impetus to make sense of the associations between income inequality, housing inequality and the social gradient in health, suggesting new questions about the ways in which housing and health are treated in the framing and development of public policy. The first half of the paper uses a social harm lens to examine the threefold associations of the social inequality, housing and health trifecta and offers new insights for policy analysis which foregrounds the production, transmission, and experience of various types of harm which occur within the home. The main body of the paper then draws upon the outcomes of an international systematic literature mapping review of 213 Covid-19 research papers to demonstrate three specific harms associated with stay-at-home lockdowns: (i) intimate partner and domestic violence, (ii) poor mental health and (iii) health harming behaviours. The reported findings are interpreted using a social harm perspective and some implications for policy analysis are illustrated. The paper concludes with a reflection on the efficacy of social harm as a lens for policy analysis and suggests directions for further research in housing studies and zemiology.

Pandemia de la COVID-19 y las Políticas de Salud Pública en el Perú: marzo-mayo 2020/COVID-19 pandemic and Public Health Policies in Peru: March-May 2020

Objetivo El trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar la dinámica del comportamiento de la COVID-19 en el Perú, estimar y evaluar el impacto de la política pública de supresión (cuarentena). Métodos El modelo epidemiológico SIR y la estimación con el método de Mínimos Cuadrados Ordinarios (MCO). Resultados Se encontró que el número básico de propagación (Ro) cayó de 6,0 a 3,2 habiéndose reducido en 54% por efecto de la estrategia de supresión, y dos meses después cayó a 1,7. Sin embargo, sigue siendo alto y evidencia que aún continúa en expansión el nivel de infectados, con los efectos sociales y económicos adversos que esta medida implica. Conclusión La COVID-19 es una enfermedad que crece exponencialmente, por lo cual, la política de salud basada en la estrategia de supresión ha permitido aplanar la curva de contagio, evitando el colapso del Sistema de Salud. Objective The objective of the study is to analyze the behavior dynamics of COVID-19 in Peru, estimate and evaluate the impact of the suppression public policy (quarantine). Methods The SIR epidemiological model and the estimation with the ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method. Results It was found that the basic number of propagation (Ro) fell from 6,0 to 3,2 having been reduced by 54% due to the suppression strategy;and two months later it falls to 1,7. However, it remains high and evidence that the level of those infected continues to expand with its adverse social and economic effects. Conclusion COVID-19 is a disease that grows exponentially, and that the health policy based on the suppression strategy has allowed to flatten the contagion curve, thus avoiding the collapse of the Health System.

RED-EMAR - A Chilean pilot initiative of early detection and intervention in clinical high-risk subjects

The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact on the mental health of adolescents and young adults in South America. As a result, the appearance of a higher incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders in these countries have been documented and could lead to the appearance of severe mental health disorders. In this context, the prevention and early intervention in mental health is a current challenge in Central and South America. Since the last decade, the existence of initiatives in this field has been mapped in Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina, mostly in first episode psychosis programs. However, Chile is the only country in South America with a multicentre prospective initiative for early detection and intervention in clinical high-risk subjects (called RED-EMAR). The aim of RED-EMAR is disseminate the value of the at-risk mental state concept (abbreviated to EMAR in Spanish), establish agreed therapeutic strategies in this field, and establish potential new evidence-based local interventions. The successful experiences of this network include the monitoring and discussion of clinical cases in telemedicine and the development of mental health psychoeducation guidelines. However, Insufficient resources, stigma, and the lack of mental health public policies are some of the weaknesses of this initiatives in South America. The development and access to early detection and intervention services in South America could be a window of opportunity to reduce the impact of severe mental health disorders such as psychosis and related disorders and move towards an approach aimed at prevention or delaying its onset.

Consolidating Ireland's Indigenous Social Enterprise Sector - A Policy Perspective

The National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland (2019 - 2022) was a watershed moment for social enterprise in Ireland. Ireland has a rich, proud and diverse experience of social economy and social enterprise, yet the policy framework developed comparatively later than in some other EU member states. Since its launch in 2019, the Policy has helped to significantly shape the social enterprise sector in Ireland including through targeted measures and improved coherence across government policy. At the same time, the sector is still in a nascent phase and faces dramatic new challenges associated with the realities of focussing on social impact whilst trading in a competitive market economy traditionally focussed on export-potential, which have been exacerbated by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As this foundational Policy comes to the end of its term, the Government, in partnership with the sector, now faces another significant juncture which will determine how successful social enterprise can be in moving from the margins to the mainstream and contributing to Ireland's economic, social and environmental progress. The current article seeks to clarify the features of Ireland's indigenous social enterprise sector, and offers perspectives on some of the prerequisites for an ambitious and impactful successor policy in 2023 to unlock the potential of the sector to grow in scale and impact.

Assessment of the Level of Digitalization of Russian Regions Under Conditions of Socio-economic Uncertainty

The paper aims to identify the peculiarities of the digital development of Russian regions in terms of socio-economic uncertainty and determine the vector of regional policy to ensure accelerated digitalization of territories. The authors analyzed the main indicators of digital development households, organizations, and public authorities of Russian regions in the pre-pandemic period compared to the period of an active course of the pandemic, as well as at the stage of military and political instability. The research identifies Russian regions where digital development processes accelerated during the period of social and economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as regions where digitalization limitations became evident. The analysis allowed the authors to conclude about the multidirectional influence of socio-economic uncertainty on the course of digital development processes in Russian regions. On the one hand, the transformation in consumer behavior and the new external conditions of socio-economic uncertainty during the pandemic led to an accelerated digitalization of regional economic systems. On the other hand, the socio-economic uncertainty of 2020 has caused dramatic changes in the implemented business models, formats of organizations, and the nature of employment, which manifested itself in the reduction of most indicators of digital development of organizations in 2020. For each selected group of Russian regions, the authors proposed state policy measures in the field of digital development, which is supportive and accelerated in nature. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Antecedents of digital supply chains for a circular economy: a sustainability perspective

PurposeA digital supply chain (DSC) positively enhances circular economy (CE) practices. However, what factors and conditions lead to the implementation of DSC for transitioning toward CE is not yet clear. Therefore, this study aims at identifying and subsequently analyzing the antecedents of DSC for CE.Design/methodology/approachThe study identifies major antecedents of DSC for CE to achieve sustainability objectives through literature review and expert opinions. In this study, 19 potential antecedents of DSCs for CE are established from the literature and suggestions from industry professionals. A trapezoidal fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach is applied quantitatively to investigate the antecedents identified.FindingsConducted in the context of Indian automobile manufacturing industry, the findings of the study reflect that advanced information sharing arrangement, effective government policies for DSC and CE implementation and digitalizing the supply chains are the top three potential antecedents of DSC for a CE.Originality/valueIn the existing literature, few studies are specific to investigating the DSC and CE paradigm. The present study will help organizations develop a practical and integrated strategic approach that will foster DSC through improved knowledge of CE.

Timely and well-targeted financial help during COVID-19: an employer-community partnership for hotel workers in New Orleans

Economic disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic left many households without the income necessary to meet basic needs. We describe an innovative, community-based partnership between a financial services company, philanthropic funders, and employers to provide financial assistance to hotel workers in New Orleans who lost jobs and income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from a survey of 1,056 hotel workers show that workers experienced lower food insecurity and difficulty paying bills in the month after receiving assistance, while transaction data from the VISA gift cards used to disburse assistance showed that workers mostly used assistance on necessities. We discuss implications for employers who want to offer emergency assistance fund programs and for public policy changes to better support low-wage workers, especially those with children.

A saúde em tempos de crise: lições a partir da Covid-19

A pandemia da Covid-19 trouxe desafios à gestão pública de todo o mundo, sendo frequentes os debates sobre quais seriam as ações mais assertivas para o seu enfrentamento. Diante disso, este estudo teve como objetivo compreender os elementos que influenciaram no resultado do enfrentamento à pandemia por meio de uma revisão integrativa sistematizada de artigos nacionais e internacionais. Os resultados evidenciaram diversas tipologias de condicionantes do enfrentamento à Covid-19, que poderiam ser agregados em três categorias inter-relacionadas: conjuntura local, contexto organizacional e capacidades estatais. Estes elementos se concentram de forma dispersa ao longo dos territórios, ensejando estratégias, parcerias e instrumentos de cooperação para minimização dos danos à população. Os resultados do estudo avançam na literatura ao desvendar a complexidade do gerenciamento de crises desta magnitude, contribuindo para a criação de aprendizado e para a gestão do conhecimento em benefício do enfrentamento de crises de saúde futuras.Alternate :The Covid-19 pandemic has brought challenges to public management around the world, with frequent debates about what would be the most assertive actions to face it. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the elements that influenced the outcome of coping with the pandemic through a systematized integrative review of national and international articles. The results showed different typologies of conditioning factors in the fight against Covid-19, which could be aggregated into three interrelated categories: local conjuncture, organizational context and state capacities. These elements are dispersed throughout the territories, giving rise to strategies, partnerships and cooperation instruments to minimize damage to the population. The study results advance the literature by unveiling the complexity of managing crises of this magnitude, contributing to the creation of learning and knowledge management for the benefit of coping with future health crises.

Necropolítica e governo Jair Bolsonaro: repercussões na seguridade social brasileira

Este artigo busca problematizar o avanço do modelo ultraneoliberal presente no governo Bolsonaro e seus impactos na política de seguridade social brasileira, enquanto política pública e como tal, dever do Estado. O avanço das contrarreformas reacionárias destrói os sustentáculos essenciais da política de seguridade social: a saúde, previdência e assistência social. A metodologia escolhida consiste na pesquisa bibliográfica a partir de produções científicas publicadas em artigos e livros, como também, jornais e revistas sobre a temática. A agenda ultraneoliberal impõe uma perseguição sem precedentes aos direitos historicamente conquistados. Em tempos de pandemia pela Covid-19, as contradições da política de negação de direitos se evidenciam. O bolsonarismo tem implementado como política oficial a necropolítica, que advém de um domínio autoritário de definir quem deve morrer e quem merece viver, aprofundando ainda mais a barbárie social contra a classe trabalhadora.Alternate :This article seeks to problematize the advancement of the ultraneoliberal model present in the Bolsonaro government and its impacts on the Brazilian social security policy, as a public policy and as such, the duty of the State. The advance of reactionary counter-reforms destroys the essential pillars of the social security policy: health, social security and social assistance. The chosen methodology consists of bibliographic research based on scientific productions published in articles and books, as well as newspapers and magazines on the subject. The ultraneoliberal agenda imposes an unprecedented pursuit of the rights historically won. In pandemic times for Covid-19, the contradictions of the denial of rights policy are evident. Bolsonarism has implemented necropolitics as an official policy, which comes from an authoritarian domain of defining who should die and who deserves to live, further deepening the social barbarism against the working class.

Economic Impact of COVID-19 and Strategic Adopted in the Hotel Sector of Manta, Ecuador

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 generated large losses in various sectors of the economy, including the hotel tourism sector. The implementation of social distancing measures caused tourists to cancel their accommodation reservations and remain inactive for several months, leading to the closure of several hotels, which implied the loss of jobs. This study analyzes the economic impact of the pandemic on the hotel sector in the Manta canton, during the years 2020 and 2021, through a descriptive-quantitative study. The results showed that the pandemic generated a significant economic impact on the sector;however, due to various strategies implemented by entrepreneurs in the hotel sector in Manta, such as their level of organization, their responsiveness and their ability to integrate with the rest of the institutions, they were key to mitigating their impact.