Why stagnant? Behind the scenes in Indonesia's reformed state asset management policies

This study seeks to answer the question of “why is policy innovation in Indonesia, in particular reformed state asset management laws and regulations, stagnant?” through an empirical and qualitative approach, identifying and exploring potential impeding influences to the full and equal implementation of said laws and regulations. The policies and regulations governing the practice of state asset management has emerged as an urgent question among many countries worldwide (Conway, 2006; Dow, Gillies, Nichols, & Polen, 2006; Kaganova, McKellar, & Peterson, 2006; McKellar, 2006b) for there is heightened awareness of the complex and crucial role that state assets play in public service provision. Indonesia is an example of such country, introducing a ‘big-bang’ reform in state asset management laws, policies, regulations, and technical guidelines. Two main reasons propelled said policy innovation: a) world-wide common challenges in state asset management practices - such as incomplete information system, accountability, and governance adherence/conceptualisation (Kaganova, McKellar and Peterson 2006); and b) unfavourable state assets audit results in all regional governments across Indonesia. The latter reasoning is emphasised, as the Indonesian government admits to past neglect in ensuring efficiency and best practice in its state asset management practices. Prior to reform there was euphoria of building and developing state assets and public infrastructure to support government programs of the day. Although this euphoria resulted in high growth within Indonesia, there seems to be little attention paid to how state assets bought/built is managed. Up until 2003-2004 state asset management is considered to be minimal; inventory of assets is done manually, there is incomplete public sector accounting standards, and incomplete financial reporting standards (Hadiyanto 2009). During that time transparency, accountability, and maintenance state assets was not the main focus, be it by the government or the society itself (Hadiyanto 2009). Indonesia exemplified its enthusiasm in reforming state asset management policies and practices through the establishment of the Directorate General of State Assets in 2006. The Directorate General of State Assets have stressed the new direction that it is taking state asset management laws and policies through the introduction of Republic of Indonesia Law Number 38 Year 2008, which is an amended regulation overruling Republic of Indonesia Law Number 6 Year 2006 on Central/Regional Government State Asset Management (Hadiyanto, 2009c). Law number 38/2008 aims to further exemplify good governance principles and puts forward a ‘the highest and best use of assets’ principle in state asset management (Hadiyanto, 2009a). The methodology of this study is that of qualitative case study approach, with a triangulated data collection method of document analysis (all relevant state asset management laws, regulations, policies, technical guidelines, and external audit reports), semi-structured interviews, and on-site observation. Empirical data of this study involved a sample of four Indonesian regional governments and 70 interviews, performed during January-July 2010. The analytical approach of this study is that of thematic analysis, in an effort to identify common influences and/or challenges to policy innovation within Indonesia. Based on the empirical data of this study specific impeding influences to state asset management reform is explored, answering the question why innovative policy implementation is stagnant. An in-depth analysis of each influencing factors to state asset management reform, and the attached interviewee’s opinions for each factor, suggests the potential of an ‘excuse rhetoric’; whereby the influencing factors identified are a smoke-screen, or are myths that public policy makers and implementers believe in; as a means to explain innovative policy stagnancy. This study offers insights to Indonesian policy makers interested in ensuring the conceptualisation and full implementation of innovative policies, particularly, although not limited to, within the context of state asset management practices

Forest resources and rural livelihoods in the north-central regions of Namibia

Economics, Forestry, Markets, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Morphological Responses of Wheat (\u3cem\u3eTriticum aestivum\u3c/em\u3e L.) to Changes in Phytochrome Photoequilibria, Blue Light and Photoperiod

Wheat (triticum aestivum, L.) plants were exposed to three different levels of phytochrome photoequilibria (φ), two different photoperiods, end-of-day far-red radiation, two different levels of blue (400-500 nm) light, three levels of photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), and two types of high intensity discharge lamp types. Tillering was reduced by lowered φ, by reduced amounts on blue light and by end-of-day far-red. Main culm development was increased by lowered φ, by increased PPF, and was reduced by shortened photoperiod and by reduced blue light. Leaf length was increased by increased PPF, lowered φ, and reduced blue light but was not affected by photoperiod, end-of-day far-red or lamp type. Dry-mass accumulation increased under increasing PPF but was unaffected by other treatment in these experiments

William A. Fowler

William A. Fowler, Institute Professor of Physics Emeritus at the California Institute of Technology, died on 14 March 1995 in Pasadena, California, at the age of 83. In winning the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physics, with Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Fowler was cited for his theoretical and experimental studies of the nuclear reactions of importance in the formation of the chemical elements in the universe

Exertion (and What Follows)

Where do I even begin to discuss my process? As with all things artistic, it comes from experiences deep within, that manifest themselves over time. So, Exertion was several years, if not a lifetime, in the making. I had always been an anxious child all my life, but my experiences with mental illness didn’t truly begin until my freshman year of high school. From then on, it was a constant mixture of depression, anxiety, and obsessive thoughts, and how to navigate through adolescence with these in mind. They have become severe a couple of times, but fortunately I was able to receive professional help, and still continue to receive professional help as I navigate this journey. Depression is something that is so hard to put into words, and the imposter syndrome associated with it is incredibly frustrating. As I talk about it, sometimes I feel like I’m lying to people, or faking it, and that I don’t deserve the help and lenience I receive. It’s terrible. I wanted to show people what it is like

Method for Estimating Low-flow Statistics for Ungaged Streams in the Lower Hudson River Basin, New York

Seven-day, 10-year and 7-day, 2-year low flow statistics were related to selected basin characteristics by multiple-regression analysis for 53 sites with watershed areas of less than 100 sq mi in the lower Hudson River basin. A common 20-year period of record was selected to ensure comparability of results. The most significant variable was the percentage of drainage basin underlain by stratified drift. The lowest standard errors of estimate were obtained from equations giving results in terms of discharge/sq mi during low-flow conditions. The statistically significant basin characteristics needed for estimating low flow were percentage of basin containing stratified drift, mean basin elevation, and mean annual precipitation. The smallest standard errors for 7-day, 10-year and 7-day, 2-year low flows obtained were 51% of the mean and 39% of the mean, respectively. (USGS

The effects of teacher's written comments on pupil performance and attitudes

The development of reinforcement theory and attitudes are examined,with particular reference to the influence feedback and knowledge of results (in the form of grades and comments) have on achievement and attitude change in science. Relevant previous research is discussed critically. Hypotheses are formed regarding the effect of Teacher Written Comments on science attitudes and achievement. Thirteen year old pupils were asked to grade comments either 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D' or 'E' depending on which grade they thought should go with the comments. 159 thirteen year old boys and girls were divided randomly into four treatment groups:- 1) Grades only, 2) Grades and matching comment, 3) Grade and above average comment, and 4) Control - existing marking and grading procedure. The Science Attitude Questionnaire (Skumik & Jeffs 1971) and a Science Achievement Test was administered before and after a topic (The Earth) was taught in science lessons. The pupil's work was marked, commented upon according to the four treatments above, and returned. No treatment effects on science achievement were found for boys or girls. Treatment 3 was found to have produced significantly greater gain than the other treatments in the Science Interest, Social Implications of Science, Science Teacher and School factors of the Science Attitude Questionnaire. Boys were found to have a significantly more favourable interest in science and it's social implications than girls. Girls had a significantly more favourable attitude to school than boys. Attenuation had reduced the sample to 147 (74 boys and 73 girls). Two years later another application of treatments was given in another middle school using 31 boys and 39 girls. A significant treatment effect was found for the achievement gain for girls (F= 4.71432, p:> 0.1%). Follow up t tests showed girls in Treatment 3 to have made significantly greater gains than Treatments 1 ,2 or 4. Again, some significant differences were found in favour of Treatment 3 in various attitude factor scores. The findings, are discussed comparing them with results from other researchers in this field. The original findings of Page (1958) are not fully supported

Time-resolved and steady-state studies of biologically and chemically relevant systems using laser, absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy

In Chapter 2 several experimental and data analysis methods used in this thesis are described. In Chapter 3 steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy was used to determine the concentration of the efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs), pheophorbide a and pyropheophorbide a, in the feces of animals and it was found that their levels far exceed those reported to be inhibitory to efflux pumps. In Chapter 4 the solvation dynamics of 6-Propionyl-2-(N,N-dimethyl) aminonaphthalene (PRODAN) was studied in reverse micelles. The two fluorescent states of PRODAN solvate on different time scales and as such care must be exercised in solvation dynamic studies involving it and its analogs. In Chapter 5 we studied the experimental and theoretical solvation dynamics of coumarin 153 (C153) in wild-type (WT) and modified myoglobins. Based on the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence studies, we have concluded that it is important to thoroughly characterize the structure of a protein and probe system before comparing the theoretical and experimental results. In Chapter 6 the photophysical and spectral properties of a derivative of the medically relevant compound curcumin called cyclocurcumin was studied. Based on NMR, fluorescence, and absorption studies, the ground- and excited-states of cyclocurcumin are complicated by the existence of multiple structural isomers. In Chapter 7 the hydrolysis of cellulose by a pure form of cellulase in an ionic liquid, HEMA, and its aqueous mixtures at various temperatures were studied with the goal of increasing the cellulose to glucose conversion for biofuel production. It was found that HEMA imparts an additional stability to cellulase and can allow for faster conversion of cellulose to glucose using a pre-treatment step in comparison to only buffer