Regulatory Constructivism: Application of Q Methodology in Italy and China

Conventional view holds that beliefs play an important role in the development of regulations but there is little evidence to support this claim. We use Comparative Q Methodology to systematically map out and compare the beliefs of public officers in China and Italy, two countries with contrasting sets of institutions but have both adopted similar ideas about integrated water resource management. We find some similarities and differences in the beliefs of public officers in both countries. In particular, we find that in both countries beliefs on the regulation of water utilities are diverse and fragmented on issues such as ownership structure of water utilities, how water infrastructure development should be funded, and how tariffs should be regulated. Our findings have two implications for theory, methods and practice. First, the Q methodology is a useful tool for systematically mapping out the beliefs of regulators and managers. Second, systematically mapping out beliefs will help facilitate the development of an alternative regime of regulation such as negotiated rule making. This alternative regime can provide substantial benefits such as more efficient rule making, more cost effective enforcement and compliance, and more equitable in terms of balancing the interests of stakeholders

Public Services Reforms in Neo-Patrimonial Systems: The Commercialization of Healthcare and Education in Saudi Arabia

Reforms of public services have been extensively researched in representative democracies, where they have been especially explained by ideological change, political turnover, financial crises and pressures from international organizations. Meanwhile, less attention has been paid to explaining them in countries whose institutions have been characterized as neo-patrimonial systems. This study aims to explain the commercialization of healthcare and education services that took place in Saudi Arabia since the 2000s. The analysis provides some ways to refine and expand existing theoretical accounts of public services reforms in regimes that differ from representative democracies

Using Analytic Narratives in Policy Analysis: An Explanation of the Implementation of the Water Reform in Italy (1994-2002)

Various critiques have been made of the analytic narrative, which is a methodological approach that combines historically oriented research with rational choice models. This paper discusses strengths and limitations of the approach and provides some suggestions for its inclusion in the repertoire of methodological tools at disposal for comparative policy studies. The argument is supported by evidence provided by the case study of the implementation of the water reform in Italy in the period 1994-2002. The case study shows how the interplay of game theoretic modeling and historical analysis results in the formulation of tentative hypotheses for explaining variation in the observed trajectory of policy reform implementation across time and space

Managing the Process of Decentralization: Transforming Old Public Entities into New Agencies in the Agricultural Sector

In an effort to reconfigure the system for the delivery of agricultural services, the Regional Government of Sardinia in Italy decided, in 2006, to suppress five public entities, and to establish three regional agencies in their place. Based on interviews conducted with managers and staff within these agencies, this paper narrates the episode of implementing the organizational restructuring of this part of the regional government's agricultural policy. Drawing on this case, this paper then presents an explanation of the process of carrying out organizational transformations (namely, mergers and demergers) within sub-national governments' administrative systems. The study finds that policy process features and context conditions figure prominently as explanatory factors for the path and outcome of the implementation of the organizational restructuring. On the whole, the research argument made in this paper suggests some qualifications of existing generalizing arguments about the management of organizational transformations in the public sector

La valutazione degli investimenti nei processi decisionali delle aziende pubbliche

Il presente articolo si propone di indagare il ruolo della valutazione degli investimenti nei processi decisionali delle aziende pubbliche. Nell'analisi si sostiene che la valutazione degli investimenti pubblici può svolgere un ruolo di grande importanza sia a sostegno del controllo strategico sia in sede di controllo di gestione. Si pensi, ad esempio, alle valutazioni ex-ante, oltre a quelle in itinere ed ex-post. Per ottenere questo risultato occorre che la valutazione degli investimenti pubblici non sia confinata ad una dimensione puramente tecnica (in particolare, per quanto concerne le metodologie di valutazione) ma diventi parte di un più ampio sistema di controllo manageriale e sia collegata ed interagisca con la fase della fissazione degli obiettivi e con la verifica dei risultati raggiunti.This article aims to investigate the role played by investment evaluation in decision-making processes in public sector organizations. This article argues that investment evaluation can play an important role in both strategic and management control. For instance, evaluation can play a role both before and after the investment decision is made, as well as in monitoring investment implementation. In order to achieve this effect, investment evaluation needs not be confi ned as a mere technical task (in particular, as a matter of applying correct evaluation methods), but it ought to be a component part of the broader managerial control system, and it should be linked to objectives-setting and assessment of results achieved

Energy-oriented optimization of an anaerobic digestion plant for the combined treatment of solid and liquid wastes in a potato chips industrial plant

Potato chips represent the main product of the snack food industry. Their processing determines the production of several kinds of wastes characterised by different physical and chemical properties that make them eligible feedstock for biological treatments. In this paper the anaerobic digestion of all the solid and liquid wastes, produced by a potato chips processing line and properly mixed, is investigated. The experiment hereby described is carried out on a pilot-scale plant and aims to reproduce the real situation of a potato chips factory by feeding all the wastes in the anaerobic reactor in a ratio suitable for an effective treatment process. A comparison between the performance of anaerobic digestion processes feed by raw potato wastes and balanced mixtures of all potato wastes deriving from potato chips processing lines is carried out. Finally, the results of the experimental investigation were used for a preliminary performance evaluation of a full-scale anaerobic digestion power plant for treating all the potato wastes produced by an industrial potato chips production plant

REUSE OF BIOMASS ASH AS AN ADDITIVE IN THE COMPOSTING PROCESS

This work investigated the effects of using selected types of biomass combustion ash as an additive in the composting process. An experimental campaign was conducted where source separated organic fractions of municipal waste was mixed with 0%, 2%, 4% and 8% (w/w) of biomass ash. Both the composting process and the final compost quality were positively influenced by ash addition. In the ash-amended composting admixtures a higher volatile solids degradation and enhanced biological stability were found, because ash were found to be effective as physical conditioner. Improved humification of the organic matter, better germination performances and higher total Ca, Mg, K and P contents were observed in the ash-amended composts comparing to the unamended one. In addition, nutrients fraction readily availability for plants was favored by ash addition with regards to Ca, Mg and K. Nitrogen content in the final composts was reduced by ash addition, but the Ctotal/Ntotal ratio was not negatively affected. The content of heavy metals and their solubility, that is regarded as the main environmental disadvantage when using combustion ash as additive, did not affect the final compost quality negatively. On the other hand, some controversial effects were observed, such as higher pH and electrical conductivity levels comparing to the unamended one. Moreover, higher temperature values and lower moisture levels were observed at the beginning of the composting process in the ash-amended composting admixture

Co-composting of municipal biowaste and biomass power plant ash: effect on the biological process and the final compost quality

In this work the use of selected types of biomass combustion ash as an additive in the composting process was studied and discussed. A composting experimental campaign was conducted in four pilot-scale composters where 0%, 2%, 4% and 8% (w/w) of biomass ash were added to the organic fraction of the municipal solid waste mixed with wood prunings, that served as bulking agent. Biomass ash influenced both the composting process and the final product quality positively. The volatile solids reduction and the stability of the final composts, the latter being measured by means of the oxygen consumption, were greatly enhanced, and the temperature rise at the early stage of the process was improved. The ash-amended composts were enriched in nutrients (Ca, Mg, K and P) and expected to be beneficial for the plant growth, as the germination tests showed. Some adverse effects were also observed, such as the higher pH and electrical conductivity in the ash-amended composts comparing to the unamended one. Also, moisture was greatly affected by ash addition, to an extent which required external control. As for the heavy metal content, that was expected to be the main disadvantage related to the ash use, it does not seem to constitute an environmental concern for the ash content considere

Potential carbon dioxide sequestration using biomass combustion ash

Biomass combustion generates solid residues (ash) and greenhouse gaseous emissions. Based on the chemical and mineralogical characteristics, biomass fly ash is an alkaline waste material that could potentially be employed as a CCS substrate. In this paper, mineralogical sequestration of carbon dioxide by means of biomass fly ash carbonation is investigated by conducting experimental accelerated carbonation tests. Fly ash results to be a promising substrate for carbon dioxide sequestration, and the sequestration potential in relation to direct and indirect plant emission factors is assessed. Leaching behaviour of treated ash is also studied, and an environmental issue concerning the selenium and molybden increased leachability comparing to the untreated residue is raised. Keywords: ashes, biomass, carbon dioxide (CO2