This paper presents an overview of the policies and efforts of the Provincial Government of Bali, Indonesia, to tackle the development of HIV/AIDS. This study considers the socio-cultural context and analyzes the factors that are most likely to influence its spread, the response of the community, and the local government’s efforts to form Provincial AIDS commission whose movement is supported by the village government and the community to suppress the spread of HIV/AIDS. The authors observe the micro factors that most determine this program, such as attitudes, behaviors, and desires of policy-making actors, stakeholders, implementing organizations, adequacy of human resources, financial funds, information, education, communication, advocacy, regional languages, the role of students, and field workers, and local culture in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Therefore, this research does not focus on just one dimension in efforts to deal with this outbreak. Following the application of the public policy theory, all potential contributing elements must be addressed simultaneously. This requires a truly interdisciplinary and multisectoral approach that requires to be comprehended by policymakers in other provinces where the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is quite high. This effort also requires commitment and strong political will from levels of government.

The small and medium tourism enterprises sector has experienced a decline in Indonesia’s economic conditions in recent years. This research aims to advise stakeholders regarding factors that must be considered and included in future policy formulation. The research methodology is a mixed method supported by the N-Vivo computer program, interview studies, and FGD. This research focuses on four tourism provinces in Indonesia. The research results using thematic analysis identified 133 codes, 19 categories, nine core themes, and one impact theme. This research’s novelty highlights that government policy’s effects on tourism SME marketing are not significant due to weak support. Apart from that, partnerships and collaboration between the central regional government and tourism SMEs are the main factors determining their development at the regional level. This research concludes that government intervention and support in encouraging the growth and sustainability of tourism SMEs are necessary. The Government must promote collaboration between tourism SMEs because increasing the number of tourists is crucial, as well as encouraging sustainable marketing practices and simplifying regulations. The recommendation is that the Government immediately simplify regulations, expand partnerships and collaboration, and promote innovation in tourism SMEs. By implementing these recommendations, policymakers can create an environment that supports the development of tourism SMEs, allowing the tourism sector to increase GRDP.

This paper analyzed the equitable allocation of infrastructure across regional states in Ethiopia. In general, in the past years, there has been a good start in the infrastructure sector in Ethiopia. However, the governance and equity system of infrastructure in Ethiopia is not flexible, not technology-oriented, not fair, and not easily solved. The results of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) showed that there is a lack of institutional capacity, infrastructure governance, and equity, which has negatively impacted the state- and nation-building processes in Ethiopia. According to the interviewees, so long as the unmet demand for infrastructure exists, it remains a key restrain on doing business in most Ethiopian regional states. This is due to the lack of integrated frameworks, as there are coordination failures (lack of proper government intervention, including a lack of proper understanding and implementation of the constitution and the federal system). In Ethiopia, to reduce these bottlenecks arising from the lack of institutional capacity, infrastructure governance, and equity and their effects on nation-building, first of all, the government has to critically hear the people, deeply assess the problems, and come to the point and then discuss the problems and the way forward with the society at large.

Agriculture is an industry that plays an essential role in economic development towards eliminating poverty issues, but foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to this sector remain modest in Vietnam. This study analyzed the determinants of foreign direct investment in the agricultural sector into the Southern Key Economic Zone (KEZ) of Vietnam, which is considered the foreign direct investment magnet of Vietnam, but its FDI inflows into the agricultural sector have been consistently low, and has shown a downward trend in recent years. The study was based on a sample of 129 foreign investors of a total of 164 multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the agricultural sector, including representatives of the Board of Directors and representatives at the department level. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to test the hypotheses. Findings indicated that FDI attraction policies have the strongest impact on FDI inflows. This was followed by infrastructure, regional agriculture policies, public service quality, natural conditions, and human resources. This study suggests policy recommendations to improve foreign direct investment inflows into the agricultural sector of the Southern Key Economic Zone (KEZ) of Vietnam.

The implementation of government decentralization in Indonesia is facing regulatory problems for autonomous regions’ financing sources. Therefore, attention to regional finance is increasingly needed given that autonomous regions are required to carry out various central government interests in addition to their affairs. This leads to a split of power over financing development policy by the regional government. However, this does not mean that the local government’s financial needs must be free from the central government’s intervention. This study briefly compares financing regional autonomy in Indonesia, France, Germany and Thailand. The results show that the distribution of financial resources between the central government and regional governments is inconsistent with Article 18A section 2 of Law No.1/2022. The results also show that the provisions of various sources of taxation and levy have not met the financial needs of regions in Indonesia. Financial balance in the form of Natural Resources Production Sharing Fund from various natural resources owned by regions that only share unrenewable resources such as mining excavated materials remains unequally distributed between regions that have natural resources.

This study examines the spatial distribution of consumption competitiveness and carrying capacity across regions, exploring their interrelationship and implications for sustainable regional development. An evaluation index system is constructed for both consumption competitiveness and carrying capacity using a range of economic, social, and environmental indicators. We apply this framework to regional data in China and analyze the resultant spatial patterns. The findings reveal significant regional disparities: areas with strong consumption competitiveness are often concentrated in economically developed regions, while high carrying capacity is notable in less populated or resource-rich areas. Notably, a mismatch emerges in some regions—high consumer demand is not always supported by adequate carrying capacity, and vice versa. These disparities highlight potential sustainability challenges and opportunities. In the discussion, we address reasons behind the spatial mismatch and propose policy implications to better align consumer market growth with regional resource and environmental capacity. The paper concludes that integrating consumption-driven growth strategies with carrying capacity considerations is essential for balanced and sustainable regional development.