Conditions influencing the adoption of a soda tax for public health: Analysis of the French case (2005–2012)

Although over 40 jurisdictions have adopted a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) for public health worldwide, it is still debated in many places. Policy processes can influence the prospect of an SSB tax, its design and its public health benefits. To get an insight into such processes, we undertook a case study of the soda tax enacted in France on the 1^st of January 2012. Newspaper articles (2003–2013) and institutional documents (2007–2012) were identified using keywords and search engines. Qualitative data extraction and analyses were performed on a thematic and chronological basis, with guidance from Kingdon’s multiple streams theory (MST). Triangulation was enhanced by using complementary sources. This study shows that in August 2011, the French government surprisingly announced a €3.58 cent/L excise tax on SSBs, excluding juices with no added sugars and non-calorically sweetened beverages (NCSBs). As part of a large budgetary plan, the proposal aimed to reduce SSB consumption and raise revenue that was earmarked for health care. Several conditions contributed to opening a policy window: The announcement occurred in the context of severe budgetary deficits; soda tax scenarios had already been discussed at a high level; and the bill was supported by convinced political leaders. Subsequently, the tax successfully passed through the legislative process due to a series of unexpected events, but its public health rationale and design were weakened. The first event was the disorganised reaction by the food industry, despite their sharp opposition to the tax. The next event was the support of the soda tax that came from a majority of Deputies, provided that the revenues would serve another purpose: relieving wage costs in the farming sector. Finally, policy entrepreneurs favoured a compromise to make the tax politically acceptable and legally viable: The tax rate doubled, the scope was extended to NCSBs and revenues were split between health care and agriculture. This study sheds light on influence factors that could be taken into account by public health actors willing to influence soda tax policy processes.     

Investigating menu kilojoule labelling policy adoption from a political science perspective

Implementation of internationally recommended policy options for obesity prevention has generally been slow and inadequate globally, and, as such, it is important to understand barriers and enablers to policy action in the area. This study aimed to apply political science theories to understand influences on the adoption of Menu Kilojoule Labelling Legislation in Victoria, Australia over the period 2009–2017. Data collection included 13 in-depth semi-structured interviews with participants of the policy development and decision-making processes, analysis of 68 policy documents, and field note observations. Data were analysed using established political science theories: the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) and the Multiple Streams Theory (MST). There were numerous and interrelating factors that influenced the Menu Kilojoule Labelling Legislative policy processes. Barriers to policy reform included electoral turnover, a dominance of neoliberal ideology, and policy maker concerns regarding potential food industry backlash. Key enablers to eventual policy change included the accumulation of evidence on policy effectiveness and feasibility of implementation, increased recognition of the importance of tackling the issue, as well as reductions in political risks achieved, in part, through relatively long consultation and negotiation processes. Findings highlight several tactics that can be used to secure similar policy change in future, including generation, dissemination and translation of implementation evidence, effective mobilisation of supporters, and negotiation and consultation processes that can reduce the degree of opposition to proposed policies.     

The long overhang of bad decisions in agro-industrial development: Sugar and tomato paste in Ghana

In theory, learning from past mistakes should result in adapted and improved development policy. However policy learning can be difficult to achieve, and the link between learning and policy change is neither direct nor immediate. In this study we look at learning in agro-industrial policy in Ghana, by tracing the interest in sugar production and tomato processing over six decades. Specifically we ask why four failed factories established in the early 1960s have continued to play central roles in both policy and public discourse. Using policy documents, academic material, and the popular press, we show that Ghana’s policy focus on sugar production and tomato processing has endured, despite the fact that the factories were misconceived, poorly sited, ill-equipped and poorly managed. Indeed, the political ideas that underpinned the establishment of these factories in the early days of independence can be seen in the current One District, One Factory policy. We suggest that it is their symbolic and political value, not their economic value, which keeps the discussion around these factories alive. Even when shut down, they are a physical manifestation of historic commitments by the state, and as such they guarantee the attention of politicians, and hold out hope of a next re-launch. Unfortunately as long as the factories continue to be incorporated into each new generation of agro-industrial policy, it is difficult for any alternatives to gain traction. This analysis highlights the very long overhang of bad decisions, particularly when they are associated with physical infrastructure. Learning from past mistakes will only happen if the short-term political cost of turning policy learning into policy action can be overcome.     

科技期刊出版业务流程的案例研究

本文基于业务沆程再造理论、数字内容理论和开放存取的技术方法,针对两种典型的样本期刊,对出版业务流程进行了对比研究。案例研究发现,传统期刊的出版业务流程在成本、质量、服务、速度等方面存在严重的缺欠,而再造后的网络期刊出版节约了时间和资金,提高了质量,加强了互动的服务,提高了效率,实现了整个出版工作的协调一致,取得了戏剧性的效果。基于此,本文提出对科技期刊业务流程再造的思考。     

雇佣模式对员工创新行为的影响机制研究

雇佣模式如何影响员工创新行为已成为企业内外广泛议论的话题。从创新行为的组织影响因素出发,逐渐渗透到个体影响因素,探究工作安全感、组织认同感在雇佣模式与创新行为之间的中介作用,以及雇佣模式与心理契约感知不同维度对创新行为的交互作用。通过对439名不同地区员工调查发现：与无固定期限员工相比,固定期限员工更倾向于表现出较少的建言行为、组织公民行为和角色创新;工作安全感和组织认同完全中介了雇佣模式对建言行为的影响,部分中介了雇佣模式对组织公民行为和角色创新的影响;固定期限员工在交易型和平衡型心理契约感知下,表现为相对消极的组织公民行为和角色创新。     

异质性机构投资者差异化作用于双元创新投资吗——基于注意力基础观与市场迎合理论双重视角

基于2011-2020年沪深A股高新技术企业样本,探究公司治理框架下异质性机构投资者对企业双元创新投资的差异化作用机理,得出如下结论：①异质性机构投资者对于双元创新投资具有差异化影响,其中,专注型机构投资者更有利于双元创新投资;②专注型机构投资者影响决策者注意力资源配置,使其更注重探索性创新投资,临时型机构投资者基于市场迎合动机作用于开发性创新投资,且当管理层业绩和外部监管压力较大时,其对开发性创新投资的迎合动机更明显;③专注型机构投资者通过监督和激励管理层、提升企业风险承担水平作用于企业双元创新投资,临时型机构投资者通过丰富投资者情绪作用于开发性创新投资未得到验证;④产业政策有助于增强专注型机构投资者对决策者注意力的影响,使其更专注于探索性创新投资,同时也有助于提高临时型机构投资者的开发性创新迎合投资动机。研究结论为理解机构投资者差异化治理角色提供了一种新视角。     

企业技术多样性、实质性社会责任信息披露与创新扩散

技术多样性是企业创新能力的重要表征,但现有研究对于技术多样性与创新扩散的关系存在争议。对此,区分相关和不相关技术多样性对创新扩散的异质性影响,并检验实质性社会责任信息披露作为一种信号传递机制对上述关系的调节作用。基于2008—2017年中国研发密集型上市企业数据进行实证分析,结果发现：相关技术多样性能够积极影响创新扩散;不相关技术多样性对创新扩散的影响存在滞后效应;实质性社会责任信息披露正向调节不相关技术多样性与创新扩散的关系。结论丰富了创新扩散理论与实证研究,可为企业创新实践提供决策依据。     

CEO环境不确定性感知与企业创新模式选择关系研究

基于高阶理论与调节焦点理论,通过中国373家企业问卷调查数据,探讨CEO环境不确定性感知对企业创新模式选择的影响机制。结果表明：CEO环境不确定性感知对企业渐进性创新与突破性创新均具有显著正向影响;高管团队行为整合在CEO环境不确定性感知与企业创新间发挥部分中介作用;CEO特质调节焦点正向调节CEO环境不确定性感知与高管团队行为整合之间的关系,同时正向调节上述中介机制。     

基于专利技术关联度的中间人角色划分方法研究

基于专利数据构建的发明人合作网络有助于分析发明人中间人角色,揭示发明人创新合作规律,对于企业研发人才管理和知识管理具有重要指导意义。群体划分是中间人角色划分的一个关键步骤,以往文献大多基于网络结构或者给定网络边界进行群体划分,忽视了专利发明人的知识交流环境和特征。鉴于此,基于专利技术关联度,利用专利著录项中的IPC分类号信息判断企业发明人所属技术知识领域,再以技术知识领域为边界设计一套算法,将发明人归入互斥子群,最终对中间人角色进行高效划分,寒武纪公司数据验证了中间人角色划分算法具有较高的准确性和有效性。     

经济政策不确定性与家族企业创新 ——融资约束及政府补助视角

家族企业作为社会发展的主要参与者,在促进经济增长方面发挥着不可替代的作用。家族企业若想实现长期发展,必然依靠创新。然而,我国家族企业普遍面临创新投入不足、创新产出效率低下等问题。基于2010—2018年中国上市家族企业数据,分析经济政策不确定性对于家族企业创新是否存在激励作用。结果发现,经济政策不确定性提高,会对家族企业创新研发活动投入与产出产生正向激励作用,促进家族企业创新。从融资约束与政府补助视角,分析两者在上述正向激励作用中的调节作用。结果表明,对于融资约束小以及受到政府补助的家族企业而言,其受到经济政策不确定性的正向激励作用更显著,有助于其开展创新研发活动。结论不仅验证了经济政策不确定性对于家族企业创新的激励作用,还揭示了融资约束以及政府补助的调节作用,可为政府制定相应补助政策,构建完善的金融市场提供理论支持和经验证据。