107159 research outputs found
Sort by
Lessons from using state organs to finance the green transition in China
Get PDFThis policy brief describes the key state-led policies China has enacted to steer capital towards a green transition and draws out lessons for other countries, particularly emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs)
Introduction
No full textThe technology industry names its products in ways that fool us into thinking they fit naturally, easily, and inconsequentially into our lives. They do not. Technologies often bring about social and political harms, but these harms are concealed by language that obscures and obfuscates. In this collection’s introductory chapter, we elaborate on our collective aim: to subvert Big Tech’s careful branding and to rechristen popular technologies in ways that point explicitly to their problems. We pursue this goal by drawing on a performative-material framework, which holds that what something is has to be understood as what it does; that is, we insist that digital technologies be understood and named as that which they enact, not just as the shiny material objects they appear to be. We argue that the need to rename tech is particularly urgent in our political moment, in which the rise of mis/disinformation, a resurgence in far-right ideologies, and human rights violations are increasingly visible in our digital communication ecosystems. We call for symbolic renaming, a commitment in our own communities to adopting new language that breaks with the values currently encoded by the technology industry: ableism, racism, extractivism, capitalism, and colonialism
Catholic values and gender politics in the Colombian mass media: Acción Cultural Popular (ACPO) in the 1970s
No full textSystem preparedness for rising kidney replacement therapy demand: late-stage CKD drives costs, healthcare resource utilisation and environmental impact in Switzerland
Get PDFIntroduction Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, affecting one in ten Swiss adults. Patient numbers are expected to increase due to demographic shift and increasing comorbidity rates, necessitating strategic healthcare planning. Holistic burden remains unknown and detailed projections—including expectations of prospective economic and environmental impact—are lacking. To inform Switzerland’s public health strategies and support its 2050 net-zero healthcare goal, this study aims to forecast the multidimensional burdens of CKD. Methods The IMPACT-CKD microsimulation model was utilised to project CKD-progression and clinical, healthcare resource utilisation, economic, societal, and environmental outcomes in Switzerland over 10 years (2023–2032). Modelled individuals were assigned CKD-relevant characteristics—including kidney function, comorbidities and clinical events—based on real-world data. Individuals were categorised into non-CKD or one of six CKD stages and progressed through the disease, diagnosed or undiagnosed. Model inputs and outcomes were validated and calibrated against literature, real-world evidence, and expert consultation. Results By 2032, IMPACT-CKD projects Switzerland’s cases of CKD to rise by 6.7% (0.96m to 1.03m) with late-stage CKD and kidney replacement therapy (KRT) surging by 18.1% (437k to 516k) and 57.2% (8.4k to 13.2k). CKD-related healthcare costs are projected to increase by 27.6% (Swiss francs [CHF] 3.3b to CHF 4.2b), driven by a 77.3% rise KRT-related costs. CKD would account for 4.6% of the Swiss healthcare budget, incur CHF 12.9b in lost productivity, 43.2m missed workdays and CHF 606m in lost tax revenue. Greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase by 12.9%, driven by rising dialysis demand. Conclusion IMPACT-CKD projects substantial increases in the multidimensional burdens of CKD in Switzerland. Impact could be mitigated via earlier detection and broader uptake of guideline-directed medical therapy. Comprehensive health policies and strategic public health planning are necessary to reduce burden and sustain Switzerland’s 2050 net-zero healthcare ambition
Place matters for the poor: digitisation and spatial inequality in Chile
No full textThis paper examines the extent to which digitalization can foster political inclusion in the context of a centralised political system with spatial inequalities. It investigates the factors associated with the digitalisation of 343 municipal governments and how both territorial and individual-level characteristics relate to attitudinal and behavioural digital civic engagement, using data from 9,924 face-to-face surveys in the Chilean region of Valparaíso. At the municipal level, the results show that territorial inequalities continue to determine access to digital services since larger and wealthier localities tend to provide more digital services. At the individual level, living in a digitised municipality is positively associated with the likelihood of using digital services. Additionally, wealthier individuals are more likely to feel empowered or engage digitally. However, engagement is greater in poorer areas, suggesting that digitisation may be particularly valuable where traditional political inclusion is limited. Important is that place and person characteristics interact: disadvantaged individuals are more engaged digitally when they live in poorer areas than when they live in wealthier areas, place makes little difference for the well-off
From AlphaGo to ChatGPT: mobilising public salience and awareness of AI in the UK and South Korea, 2000-2023
No full textMeasuring trust in science through surveys: challenges and reflections
Get PDFPublic trust in science plays a crucial role in shaping science-society relations. Surveys are widely used to measure such trust, yet the operationalisation and interpretations of corresponding items present significant challenges. This chapter explores the complexities of measuring trust in science through surveys and the implications for interpreting public attitudes across different contexts. First, it examines the challenges of operationalising the multi-dimensional concept of trust in science in form of survey items. Second, it unpacks the role of question wording, demonstrating how semantics and pragmatics influence survey responses. A paradigm-syntagma framework is introduced to systematically categorise trust-related survey items. Third, the chapter uses an empirical analysis of Eurobarometer data to illustrate the complexity of interpreting survey items on trust in science. The findings underscore the risks of oversimplified rankings and comparisons and advocate for a more context-sensitive approach to survey interpretation
Preferences for models of care for older people with high care needs: survey of people aged 50 years and over in England
No full textDoes fiscal autonomy increase local income? Evidence from Italy
Get PDFCan fiscal autonomy affect per capita income levels? We empirically investigate the impact of fiscal autonomy on per capita income through the proper use of local financial resources. Exploiting a natural experiment in Italy, we compare municipalities in the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano, which retain and manage almost all their tax revenues, with neighbouring municipalities in Lombardy and Veneto, where only a small fraction of revenues is autonomously managed. Using a spatial fuzzy regression discontinuity design, we estimate the effect of financial fiscal autonomy on per capita income. We address the potential endogeneity of financial fiscal autonomy with a dummy variable identifying municipalities that manage almost all their tax revenues. Our findings show that higher levels of local financial fiscal autonomy increase per capita income: a one percentage point rise in the financial fiscal autonomy raises per capita income by 0.2–0.7%. This effect is largely driven by higher municipal-level administrative quality in municipalities with stronger fiscal autonomy. The results highlight that granting fiscal autonomy can enhance local economic performance
Electroconvulsive therapy-induced motor seizure length trajectories and their association with clinical remission: a retrospective cohort study across diagnoses
Get PDFBackground Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a well-established treatment for severe psychiatric conditions, yet optimal process markers for predicting therapeutic response remain under investigation. Historically, motor seizure length has been considered a factor in ECT efficacy, but the relationship between seizure length and treatment response remains controversial. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included 331 inpatients who received ECT for acute psychiatric conditions between 2009 and 2015. Growth Mixture Modeling (GMM) was used to identify seizure length trajectories, while Latent Growth Curve Modeling (LGCM) examined predictors of changes. Clinical remission was assessed via the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale pre- and post-treatment. Results A single decreasing trajectory of seizure length over ECT sessions best fit the data. Baseline seizure length and session frequency were significantly associated with changes in seizure length. However, neither seizure length nor its reduction correlated with clinical remission. Conclusion Motor seizure length decreased across ECT sessions but was not associated with clinical remission in this study. Limitations include the single-site, retrospective design and the absence of EEG-based seizure measures, which may limit generalizability. These findings challenge the utility of seizure length as a predictive marker and underscore the need for more precise indicators to tailor ECT interventions