Public-private partnerships (PPPs) were established in Brazil at the beginning of this century, following a global trend of using these partnerships to stimulate investment in infrastructures, particularly in a framework of restrictive budgetary and fiscal conditions. Despite their growing importance and the expectation of an expanding role in the future, not much is known about the actual facts on the ground. The objective of this paper is to be a first step in the direction of filling this information gap by providing important stylized facts about the universe of PPPs in Brazil: the quantitative evolution of PPP adoptions; the characterization of the geographical distribution of PPPs by government level (federal, state, district, and municipal); the characterization of the PPP intervention areas, including the total value of contracts and the modalities of PPP concession (sponsored and administrative). This objective is rendered possible by the development of a new database that covers the entire process of PPP contracting from 2005 to 2022, including the opening of public consultation procedures, the publication of the official notice, and the signing of contracts, as well as multiple thematic, financial, jurisdictional, and regional indicators. In turn, we see the establishment of these stylized facts as a necessary first step in the direction of understanding the factors that may determine or condition their adoption. In general, having a clear picture of the universe of the PPPs in Brazil is fundamental as their use and their role are expected to significantly increase in the future as the country pursues a path of improved economic activity and well-being of the population.
Purpose: To reveal the impact mechanism of rural museum intervention on the construction of local identity of rural community residents, and provide practical reference for the protection and utilization of rural cultural identity. Methods: This study takes the Weijiapo Rural Museum in Luoyang, China as the research object, uses participatory observation and in-depth interview methods, and explains the specific characteristics of rural community resident identity construction through identity process theory (IPT). Results: (1) The impact of the intervention of rural museums on rural areas is reflected in four aspects: local spatial reconstruction, transformation of livelihood methods, reconstruction of social relationships, and evolution of cultural customs; (2) under the influence of rural museum construction, the representation of community residents’ identity has shown complex characteristics, with both positive and negative impacts coexisting; (3) the local identity of community residents affects their perception and attitude towards the construction of rural museums.
This study explores the transformative role of art design interventions in the sustainable development and infrastructure enhancement of intangible cultural heritage, with a particular focus on honored brands. The research develops a framework that positions aesthetic and interactive art design interventions as pivotal components in revitalizing these brands. Aesthetic interventions translate the brand’s core philosophy, spirit, and values into compelling visual symbols, harmonizing cultural heritage with modern image design to elevate brand reputation and consumer preference. Interactive interventions enhance user experience, particularly among younger demographics, by integrating technological and entertainment-based engagement, thereby strengthening consumer loyalty and brand influence. The study further investigates how these art design interventions serve as catalysts for broader social development, contributing to the modern relevance and societal impact of time-honored brands. Additionally, it examines the impact of these interventions on sustainable development, societal support, and policy alignment. By weaving together these elements, the research underscores the critical importance of aligning brand strategies with societal goals, fostering environments where brands actively contribute to social welfare and sustainable growth. The findings offer valuable theoretical insights and practical strategies for the sustainable development of time-honored brands, providing clear directions for future research and practice.
A serious problem in the workplace is incivility, which impacts especially vulnerable groups like single mothers who hold jobs and experience subtle unfair or damaging treatment. As the number of single working mothers continues to rise in today’s workforce, this study aims to clarify third-party perceptions about incivility against them at work and subsequent influences on individuals as well as the organization. Because the analysis is embedded in theories of social role expectations and organizational justice, it explores third-party observers’ perceptions (such as coworkers or supervisors) of whether incivility directed at single working mothers differs from that experienced by their comparison group—professionally equivalent peers who do not share equal caregiver responsibilities. The researchers employed a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews to collect rich data from participants who represented several fields. They report their results that third-party observers are less likely to experience vicarious justification of incivility against single working mothers but may be equally unlikely or even more reluctant than in the case of other employees and furthermore find this data account for these differences. The results illustrate the intricate interplay of gender, family structure and work dynamics on workplace outcomes—all leading to lower job satisfaction rates, a high level of stress or even stagnation in career progression for single working mothers. Our findings also extend the workplace incivility literature by demonstrating ways in which single working mothers are particularly vulnerable to this form of mistreatment and a broader need for organizational policies that cultivate an inclusive, supportive environment. Implications for human resource management, organizational culture and policy based on these findings are discussed as it may provide some recommendations for handling incivility in the workplace environment.
Presently, any development initiatives without considering sustainability can barely be imagined. There has been a paradigm shift in the focus of the development partners from the mere development to sustainable development. However, the role of development partners in bringing sustainability in livelihood assets of the rural community has long been questioned. Hence, this study aims to explore the sustainability in the form of changes in livelihood assets of a local community in Bangladesh. This study considers the changes in livelihood assets of the community over the three-time frames - before, during, and after a project implemented by a national NGO called ‘UST’ and subsequently identifies the community’s capacity to sustain the project outcomes after the completion of the project. ‘Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF)’ developed by Department for International Development (DFID) was utilized in this study to analyse the vulnerability and livelihood issues of the community members. Data has been collected through focus group discussions, household survey and key informants’ interviews from three distinct villages of ‘Khutamara’ union in the ‘Nilphamari’ district of Bangladesh. The finding of the study states that all the livelihood assets such as the social capital, human capital, natural capital, financial capital, physical capital have positively changed due to the interference of the development partners. This study further finds that even after the completion of project tenure, such positive trends continue to exist among the community members indicating sustainable development. Moreover, political capital- a new type of livelihood has also emerged because of the project implementation which was not quite evident before the inception of the project. In addition, this study explored the unique phenomenon of the Shabolombee Gram, where the transformation altering farmers’, livelihoods does not come from the government or the private sector but originates from a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Therefore, the government and its development partners may adopt and incorporate the Modified Sustainable Livelihood Framework (MSLF) to ensure the sustainable development.
In Central and Eastern European countries, the labour shortage is becoming increasingly pronounced, posing a challenge for the economy. Labour shortages limit the potential national income as many positions remain unfilled, which could lead to a slowdown in economic growth. To address this issue, various solutions need to be explored. This research aims to analyze solutions for alleviating labour shortages, with particular emphasis on measures that encourage workforce participation. One strategy is introducing training and retraining programs that help workers develop skills and adapt to labour market demands. Another option is to promote part-time employment, which may be especially attractive to groups unable or unwilling to work full-time. Enhancing population mobility could also be crucial in addressing labour shortages, particularly in bridging regional disparities. Integrating certain inactive groups, such as retirees, homemakers, students, people with disabilities, and those with low education levels experiencing generational poverty, into the labour market could also yield significant benefits. The study employs quantitative analysis methods and includes a survey that examines citizens’ perspectives on the effectiveness of measures aimed at increasing labour market participation and their economic impact on the Slovak economy. The survey data were collected in 2023 in the region of Rožňava and its surrounding areas.
Copyright © by EnPress Publisher. All rights reserved.