Low enrollment intention threatens the funding pools of rural insurance schemes in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate how social capital enhances the enrollment of health insurance among rural middle-aged and elderly. We propose that social capital directly increases health insurance enrollment, while indirectly influences health insurance through health risk avoidance. We used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (wave 4) dating the year of 2018, instrumental variable estimation was introduced to deal with the endogeneity problem, and the mediation analysis was used to examine the mechanism of social capital on insurance enrollment. The results show that social capital is positively related to social health insurance enrollment, and the relationship between social capital and social health insurance enrollment is mediated by health risk avoidance.

This article uses a qualitative descriptive approach, through field visits with observations and in-depth interviews. The research location chosen was a representative village in accordance with the Tourism Village classification of the Gunung Kidul Regency Tourism Office. A tourist village is a form of integration between attractions, accommodation and supporting facilities presented in a structure of community life that is integrated with applicable procedures and traditions. In line with this, the existence of tourist villages can be an alternative strategy for increasing village original income (PADes) to support poverty alleviation. Measuring the impact of tourism village innovation on increasing Village Original Income (PADes) in supporting poverty reduction can provide a complete picture of how the implementation of tourism village innovation has a significant impact on village development through increasing PADes. Gunung Kidul Regency is one of the areas that has succeeded in developing tourist villages, this can be seen from the reduction in poverty rates in the last 10 years.

Leaf litter decomposition and carbon release patterns in five homegarden tree species of Kumaun Himalaya viz. Ficus palmata, Ficus auriculata, Ficus hispida, Grewia optiva and Celtis austalaris were investigated. The study was carried out for 210 days by using litter bag technique. In the current investigation, the duration needed for desertion of the original biomass of diverse leaf litter varied from 150 to 210 days and specifies a varying pattern of decomposition and carbon release among the species. Grewia optiva took the longest time to decompose (210 days) while Ficus hispida decomposed more quickly than rest of the species (150 days). The relative decomposition rate (RDR) was reported highest in Ficus hispida (0.009-0.02 g-1d-1) and lowest in Grewia optiva (0.008-0.004 g-1d-1). Carbon (%) in remaining litter was in the order: Ficus auriculata (24.4 %) >Ficus hispida (24.3%) > Celtis austaralis (19.8%) > Ficus palmata (19.7%) > Grewia optiva (19%). The relationship between percentage weight loss and time elapsed showed the significant negative correlation with carbon release pattern in all the species. Releasing nutrients into the soil through the decomposition of homegarden tree residuals is a crucial ecological function that also regulates the nutrient recycling in homegarden agroforestry practices.

Our intention in assembling this special issue of the Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development is to offer a state-of-the-art tour through the political economy issues associated with the provision of public infrastructure, and with the use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in particular. Anyone who is familiar with PPPs cannot fail to be impressed by the diversity of positions and claims regarding their properties. Some scholars maintain that PPPs are an efficient tool to enhance productivity due to their ability to manage demand-side risk. In contrast, other scholars see in PPPs a scheme whereby the public assumes the risk while the private partner takes the profit.