Predicting currency fluctuations and crises - do resident firms have an informational advantage?

The authors investigate whether resident enterprise managers have an informational advantage about the countries in which they work. They propose a method for extracting information available to resident managers but unknown to investors and forecasters. They rest their hypothesis of informational advantage using a unique data set, the Global Competitiveness Survey. The survey asks local managers about their outlook for the country in which they reside. They find that local managers do have useful private information. Local managers'responses improve on conventional forecasts of future volatility and changes in the exchange rate, which are based on economic fundamentals or interest rate differentials. They find that the local business community perceived in advance the recent crises in the Republic of Korea, Russia, and Thailand, but not those in Indonesia and Malaysia. Markets have had limited success predicting crises and might do better by drawing on private information available to resident enterprise managers, who seem to know better than markets about future movements in exchange rates.ICT Policy and Strategies,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Public Health Promotion,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Financial Intermediation,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,ICT Policy and Strategies

A System Dynamics Evaluation Model: Implementation of Health Information Exchange for Public Health Reporting

The objective of this study is to evaluate complex dynamics involved in implementing electronic health information exchange for public health reporting at a state health department, and to identify policy implications to inform similar implementations. Qualitative data were collected over eight months from seven experts at NYS DOH who implemented web services and protocols for querying, receipt, and validation of electronic data supplied by regional health information organizations. Extensive project documentation also was collected. During group meetings experts described the implementation process and created reference modes and causal diagrams that the evaluation team used to build a preliminary model. System dynamics modeling techniques were applied iteratively to build causal loop diagrams representing the implementation. Validation of the diagrams was done iteratively by individual experts followed by group review online, and through confirmatory review of documents a! nd artifacts. Three casual loop diagrams captured well-recognized system dynamics: Sliding Goals, Project Rework, and Maturity of Resources. The findings were associated with specific policies that address funding, leadership, ensuring expertise, planning for rework, communication, and timeline management. This evaluation illustrates the value of a qualitative approach to system dynamics modeling. As a tool for strategic thought about complicated and intense processes, qualitative models can be produced with fewer resources than a full simulation, yet still provide insights that are timely and relevant. System dynamics techniques clarified endogenous and exogenous factors at play in a highly complex technology implementation, which may inform other states engaged in implementing HIE supported by federal HITECH legislatio

Integrated Health Information Architecture to Facilitate State-wide and National Evidence-Based Public Health Monitoring: A Case Study Based in India

The fact that significant investments are made toward large-scale health programs both at national and state levels requires close scrutiny of such programs based on routine surveys and data collection operations besides increased use of data for decision making and policy formulation. In order to effectively meet diverse data needs of various stakeholders, accurate and timely information exchange among information systems becomes a pre-requisite. To facilitate information exchange among different levels of health system an Integrated Health Information Architecture (IHIA) is required especially when the national health system and the health information systems are comprised of state level systems. However, the Health Information System (HIS) landscape in India, unfortunately, is highly fragmented and operates in silos. As a result, data-based health policy and program development has become tedious. Interestingly, the proposed national health policy of India envisions to expand universal health coverage, and strengthen health information systems for effective monitoring and assessment of policy implementation. Furthermore, this health policy aims to develop an IHIA to drive evidence-based monitoring, evaluation and quality improvement efforts at all the levels of healthcare system. In the backdrop of the health policy mandate and lack of pertinent knowledge and in-country experience, conducting a research study on health information architecture for improved policy decision making is a timely and useful exercise. For the purpose of this research study the Indian state of Bihar, one of the poorest states in the country, was selected as a case. It is a high priority state not only for the national health programs but also for international donors like Department for International Development, United Kingdom, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that are implementing innovative health information technology interventions. The objective of this research study was to analyze the current state level health information systems landscape in Bihar and then suggest an integrated, but decentralized, health information architecture that will encourage information system innovations at the district and sub-district levels while meeting the data and information needs of healthcare providers, and health policy and program leaders. Besides, such an architecture will enable both vertical and horizontal scalability. Two principal research techniques namely secondary literature review and primary data collection were used in this study. The literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science. The primary data collection involved eleven key informant interviews in Bihar. The research findings highlight the fragmented HIS landscape and describe the a) health system of Bihar, b) HIS in Bihar, c) key stakeholders of IHIA, and, c) organizational mapping. Based on the research findings, the paper presents an IHIA for Bihar state. In the penultimate section, the paper describes the factors that are most likely to influence implementation and sustainability of the IHIA in a low resource setting. The paper concludes with few suggested next steps to take forward the output of this research.Master of Public Healt

Public Health Policy and Infectious Disease Control: Lessons from Recent Outbreaks

This research explores the complex dynamics of public health policy and its crucial role in managing pandemics, considering the unprecedented challenges presented by recent outbreaks of infectious diseases. Examining the worldwide consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ebola outbreak, we analyze the insights gained from these emergencies, highlighting the necessity for flexible policy development, cooperative endeavors, and the incorporation of community-led strategies. This study adds to the current discussion on pandemic preparedness and the development of robust public health systems. This research paper examines the significant influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ebola outbreak on worldwide public health. It specifically analyzes the efficacy of public health policies and the involvement of mathematical models in managing infectious diseases. Understanding the development of public health responses requires considering the historical context of infectious disease outbreaks such as the Spanish Flu, H1N1, SARS, and MERS. This study conducts a comparative analysis of the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ebola outbreak, taking into account their distinct challenges and contextual factors. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has presented a multifaceted global health crisis that requires swift and flexible public health measures. Conversely, the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo revealed difficulties that are unique to areas affected by conflict and emphasized the significance of involving the community in efforts to control the disease. The paper explores the global ramifications of these outbreaks, encompassing not only health consequences but also economic, societal, and international relations implications. The interdependence of global health is examined by analyzing the responses to COVID-19 and Ebola, highlighting the crucial requirement for collaborative endeavors, exchange of information, and fair allocation of resources. The research utilizes a case study methodology, specifically examining the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ebola outbreak as illustrative instances. Data collection encompasses the evaluation of implemented public health policies, the utilization of mathematical models for analysis, and the contemplation of ethical ramifications in the study of global health emergencies. The paper concludes by providing policy recommendations derived from the insights gained from these outbreaks. It highlights the importance of flexible and data-driven policymaking, international collaboration, and the incorporation of community-led strategies

Disease Surveillance Networks Initiative Asia: Final Evaluation

The DSN Initiative was launched in 2007 under the new strategy of the Rockefeller Foundation. The initiative intends:[1] To improve human resources for disease surveillance in developing countries, thus bolstering national capacity to monitor, report, and respond to outbreaks;[2] To support regional networks to promote collaboration in disease surveillance and response across countries; and[3] To build bridges between regional and global monitoring effortsThe purpose of the DSN evaluation in the Mekong region was twofold:[1]To inform the work and strategy of the Foundation, its grantees, and the broader field of disease surveillance, based on the experience of DSN investments in the Mekong region. More specifically, the evaluation will inform future directions and strategies for current areas of DSN Initiative work, particularly in Asia, and will highlight potential new areas of work and strategy; and[2] To provide accountability to the Rockefeller Foundation's board, staff, and stakeholders for the DSN funds spent in the Mekong region

Minnesota: Individual State Report - State Level Field Network Study of the Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

This report is part of a series of 21 state and regional studies examining the rollout of the ACA. The national network -- with 36 states and 61 researchers -- is led by the Rockefeller Institute of Government, the public policy research arm of the State University of New York, the Brookings Institution, and the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.By the end of the second enrollment period in 2015, MNsure (the insurance marketplace) reported that more than 300,000 individuals had enrolled in health insurance coverage through the marketplace since its launch. Eighty percent of this new coverage is due to growth in public program enrollment, with the remaining coverage due to QHP (qualified health plans) enrollment. Between September 30, 2013, and May 1, 2014, the number of uninsured Minnesotans fell by 180,500 -- a reduction of 40.6 percent. Minnesotans saved $30 million on their insurance premiums through tax credits in 2014.While the increase in health insurance coverage was driven particularly by an increase in the number of Minnesotans enrolled in public health insurance programs, enrollment in private health insurance plans has also increased. As MNsure moves forward, it is important to maintain a strong private QHP market, as those premiums significantly contribute to the marketplace's revenues

Injecting equipment schemes for injecting drug users : qualitative evidence review

This review of the qualitative literature about needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) for injecting drug users (IDUs) complements the review of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. It aims to provide a more situated narrative perspective on the overall guidance questions

A Patient-Centered Framework for Evaluating Digital Maturity of Health Services: A Systematic Review

© Kelsey Flott, Ryan Callahan, Ara Darzi, Erik Mayer.Background: Digital maturity is the extent to which digital technologies are used as enablers to deliver a high-quality health service. Extensive literature exists about how to assess the components of digital maturity, but it has not been used to design a comprehensive framework for evaluation. Consequently, the measurement systems that do exist are limited to evaluating digital programs within one service or care setting, meaning that digital maturity evaluation is not accounting for the needs of patients across their care pathways. Objective: The objective of our study was to identify the best methods and metrics for evaluating digital maturity and to create a novel, evidence-based tool for evaluating digital maturity across patient care pathways. Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature to find the best methods and metrics for evaluating digital maturity. We searched the PubMed database for all papers relevant to digital maturity evaluation. Papers were selected if they provided insight into how to appraise digital systems within the health service and if they indicated the factors that constitute or facilitate digital maturity. Papers were analyzed to identify methodology for evaluating digital maturity and indicators of digitally mature systems. We then used the resulting information about methodology to design an evaluation framework. Following that, the indicators of digital maturity were extracted and grouped into increasing levels of maturity and operationalized as metrics within the evaluation framework. Results: We identified 28 papers as relevant to evaluating digital maturity, from which we derived 5 themes. The first theme concerned general evaluation methodology for constructing the framework (7 papers). The following 4 themes were the increasing levels of digital maturity: resources and ability (6 papers), usage (7 papers), interoperability (3 papers), and impact (5 papers). The framework includes metrics for each of these levels at each stage of the typical patient care pathway. Conclusions: The framework uses a patient-centric model that departs from traditional service-specific measurements and allows for novel insights into how digital programs benefit patients across the health system

Economism and its Limits

Articl

Exploring knowledge exchange: a useful framework for practice and policy

Knowledge translation is underpinned by a dynamic and social knowledge exchange process but there are few descriptions of how this unfolds in practice settings. This has hampered attempts to produce realistic and useful models to help policymakers and researchers understand how knowledge exchange works. This paper reports the results of research which investigated the nature of knowledge exchange. We aimed to understand whether dynamic and fluid definitions of knowledge exchange are valid and to produce a realistic, descriptive framework of knowledge exchange. Our research was informed by a realist approach. We embedded a knowledge broker within three service delivery teams across a large mental health organisation, each of whom was grappling with specific challenges. The knowledge broker participated in the team's problem-solving process and collected observational fieldnotes. We also interviewed the team members. Observational and interview data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively in order to determine and describe the nature of the knowledge exchange process in more detail. This enabled us to refine our conceptual framework of knowledge exchange. We found that knowledge exchange can be understood as a dynamic and fluid process which incorporates distinct forms of knowledge from multiple sources. Quantitative analysis illustrated that five broadly-defined components of knowledge exchange (problem, context, knowledge, activities, use) can all be in play at any one time and do not occur in a set order. Qualitative analysis revealed a number of distinct themes which better described the nature of knowledge exchange. By shedding light on the nature of knowledge exchange, our findings problematise some of the linear, technicist approaches to knowledge translation. The revised model of knowledge exchange which we propose here could therefore help to reorient thinking about knowledge exchange and act as a starting point for further exploration and evaluation of the knowledge exchange process