Academic literature on the topic 'Underprivileged groups towards employment'

Despite the severity of the global economic crisis and the widespread aversion towards austerity policies, neoliberalism remains the dominant mode of economic governance in the world. What makes neoliberalism such a resilient mode of economic and political governance? How does neoliberalism effectively reproduce itself in the face of popular opposition? States of Discipline offers an answer to these questions by highlighting the ways in which today’s neoliberalism reinforces and relies upon coercive practices that marginalize, discipline and control social groups. Such practices range from the development of market-oriented policies through legal and administrative reforms at the local and national-level, to the coercive apparatuses of the state that repress the social forces that oppose various aspects of neoliberalization. The book argues that these practices are built on the pre-existing infrastructure of neoliberal governance, which strive towards limiting the spaces of popular resistance through a set of administrative, legal and coercive mechanisms. Exploring a range of case studies from across the world, the book uses ‘authoritarian neoliberalism’ as a conceptual prism to shed light on the institutionalization and employment of state practices that invalidate public input and silence popular resistance.

Abstract The increasing dependence on knowledge as a driver of societal development during the twenty-first century has placed the governance of academia in a state of transformation. Increasing pressure for academia to direct the production, proliferation, and utilisation of academic knowledge towards the perceived needs and interests of government, industry and interests groups have manifested themselves in a diverse set of conditions for funding of education and research. For academics in general, and for early career researchers in particular, the result is an increasing dependence on external funding. In response, many universities have taken steps to introduce restrictions on form, content, and publication of research – as well as what types of employments are made available for researchers in the first place. This study explores the relationship between employment security and reliance on external funding in Finland and Sweden – two countries that have recently adopted tenure-track models. The exploration is based on material from the APIKS survey regarding duration of employment contracts, exposure to expectations, and sources of funding. Based on this analysis, we discuss whether tenure can effectively provide a healthy degree of independence and academic freedom in a funding landscape characterised by a high degree of competition for research funding. The results of the study provide insights into how the transformation of conditions for academic work interact with fundamental values of academia, and open avenues for further research into how academics deal with the pressures of modern career structures.

AbstractThe concept of surgical margins was born a long time ago but still lacks a univocal and sound understanding. The current biological rationale behind the recommendations on margins management relies on two pillars: (1) the observation that groups of cancer cells can leave the macroscopic tumor and disseminate throughout adjacent tissues with different degrees of aggressiveness; (2) the belief that removal of all (or most of) cancer cells can cure the patient. However, this background is undermined by some pieces of evidence. For instance, it has been proven that tissues surrounding cancer often bear precancerous traits, which means that cutting through non-cancerous tissues does not equate to cut through healthy tissues. The head and neck exquisitely poses a number of challenges in the achievement of negative margins, with special reference to anatomical complexity, high density in relevant structures, and unique histological heterogeneity of cancers. Currently, intraoperative margins evaluation relies on surgeons’ sight, palpation, ability to map tumor extension on imaging, and knowledge of anatomy, with some optical imaging technologies aiding the delineation of the mucosal margins of excision. Frozen sections are currently used to intraoperatively evaluate margins, yet with debate on whether and how this practice should be performed. Future perspectives on improvement of margins control are threefold: research is oriented towards refinements of understanding of cancers local progression, implementation of technologies to intraoperatively render tumor extension, and employment of optical imaging modalities capable of detecting foci of residual tumor in the surgical bed.

Abstract The chapter Disruption in the Information Industry: Precariousness and Professional ‘Decapitalisation’ focuses on the information industry and the dramatic changes it has experienced as a result of digitalisation and the continuous crises that have directly impacted not only the ways the profession is practised but also the conditions in which journalists work. This section analyses the effects of these global processes within the Spanish context, with the aim of contextualising the structural conditions upon which the information industry is based, including advertising investment, employment, business models, and corporate mergers. The last section delves into how the economic situation has directly influenced the structure of the journalistic profession and resulted in the “decapitalisation” of journalism’s watchdog role, with a marked increase in jobs directed towards corporate communication, compared to the dwindling state of conventional media newsrooms. The chapter also underscores how the current working conditions for journalists clash with the professional values that have traditionally characterised the field, particularly journalistic autonomy, which is increasingly constrained by commercial and political pressures, as supported by various studies. To further explore the state of the profession and the conditions under which journalism is practised, the final chapter includes testimony from 16 junior and senior Spanish professionals, participants in two focus groups held in 2024. This section brings together first-hand experiences and reflections, offering a detailed overview of the current professional context and the circumstances under which journalists work.

AbstractAccording to the received view of the development of particle physics, mathematics, and more specifically group theory, provided the key which, between the late 1950s and the early 1960s, allowed scientists to achieve both a deeper physical understanding and an empirically successful modeling of particle phenomena. Indeed, a posteriori it has even been suggested that just by looking at diagrams of observed particle properties (see Fig. 1) one could have recognized in them the structures of specific groups (see Fig. 2). However, a closer look at theoretical practices of the 1950s and early 1960s reveals a tension between the employment of advanced mathematical tools and the “modeling” of observation, if the term “model” is understood as a construction allowing for the fitting and predicting of phenomena. As we shall see, the most empirically successful schemes, such as the “Gell-Mann and Nishijima model” or the “eightfold way”, were mathematically very simple, made no use of group-theoretical notions and for quite a time resisted all attempts to transform them into more refined mathematical constructs. Indeed, the theorists who proposed them had little or no interest in abstract approaches to mathematical practice. On the other hand, there were a number of particle theorists who did care about and employ group-theoretical notions, yet not primarily as tools to fit phenomena, but rather as a guide to uncover the fundamental principles of particle interactions. Moreover, these theorists did not regard all groups as epistemically equivalent, and instead clearly preferred those transformations related to space-time invariances over all others. These authors also often made a distinction between purely descriptive “models” and the “theories” they were (unsuccessfully) trying to build and which in their opinion would provide a deeper understanding of nature. Nonetheless, they expected their “theories”, too, to be empirically successful in describing observation, and thus to also function as “models”. In this sense, like their less mathematically-inclined colleagues, they also saw no clear-cut distinction between “modeling” and “theorizing” particle phenomena. In my paper I will discuss the development of these theoretical practices between the 1950s and the early 1960s as examples of the complex relationship between mathematics and the conceptualization of physical phenomena, arguing that, at least in this case, no general statements are possible on the relationship of mathematics and models. At that time, very different mathematical practices coexisted and the epistemic attitudes of physicists towards theoretical constructs could depend both on the assumptions and goals of the individual authors and on the specific mathematical methods and concepts linked to the constructs.

Abstract The far-reaching changes witnessed in the way companies organize work right across the European Union have been prompted by the move away from a production-based economy towards an economy where the services sector rules, by technological progress, and by market globalization. These same changes have a crucial impact on the coHective organization of labour relations and on the legal mechanisms governing worker representation, action, and collective bargaining. New groups of workers have joined the labour market and there is now a need to examine employment and labour problems as a whole and not just from the traditional standpoint of the subordinated worker. These factors, together with the way the single market will work once the EMU is in place and the euro becomes the common currency, are creating new frameworks for collective representation. All in alt the social and cultural modifications that have been triggered by these changes require a dynamic response so that collective representation can be brought into line with this transformation, thereby avoiding any discrepancy between the current and future needs of work organization and the industrial model of labour relations on which the collective organization of work has been built.

This chapter examines the effects of bias in AI on individuals, businesses, and society, along with potential mitigation strategies. The pervasive adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in various societal sectors raises a critical question: what is the impact of inherent biases in AI systems? It is vital to seek technical solutions to these biases and to comprehend the wider societal repercussions of AI bias to reduce its detrimental effects. AI bias can significantly and sometimes adversely affect individuals, businesses, and society. The influence of AI bias spans several domains, including employment, hiring, businesses, criminal justice system and society. AI-driven mechanisms could unintentionally discriminate against specific demographics based on race, gender, or economic status, potentially aggravating existing inequalities and curtailing opportunities for underprivileged groups. Moreover, AI bias can shape public perception and decision-making. Thus, it is clear that AI impacts us on three fronts: individually, commercially, and societally.

This chapter examines trust in the police and perceptions of police legitimacy among minority groups, focussing on those from migrant and ethnic minorities. These groups are disproportionately ensnared in the justice system in most ethnically diverse Western countries, and they are over-represented in their prison populations. The chapter offers an explanation for these patterns that focusses on the progressive social and economic marginalisation of migrants from visible minority groups over time, resulting from discriminatory treatment in systems of education, employment and justice. Migrants have generally arrived in their new countries with optimism and positive attitudes towards the police and other institutions of their chosen country. Over time and over generations, this positive outlook is overshadowed by negative experiences of the police, by falling trust in the police, and by reductions in levels of legitimacy conferred on the police. The chapter discusses ways of recovering relations between police and minority groups.

The promotion of women's empowerment is essential for the holistic development of society. Self-help groups (SHGs) are crucial in empowering women, especially those in rural and underprivileged regions, by providing financial inclusion and skill development training. The study seeks to assess the mechanism of SHGs in improving the livelihoods of tribal women in Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, it attempts to evaluate the impact of SHGs on their socio-economic empowerment and their perceptions of SHGs. For this purpose, the data was collected from tribal women in Varanasi and Sonbhadra using a structured questionnaire. The study used percentage analysis, one-sample t-test, paired t-test, and regression analysis to assess the objectives set forth based on a sample size of 263. The study's results indicate that the SHGs mechanism has a moderate to high level of effectiveness in enhancing the economic empowerment of tribal women in Uttar Pradesh. Since becoming members of SHGs, the beneficiaries have seen significant enhancements in their income, savings, and employment and moderate enhancement in expenditure patterns. SHG mechanisms are reliable indicators of socio economic empowerment, and women who are empowered tend to have a positive perception of SHGs. The study's findings suggest that continuous support and the expansion of SHG initiatives may significantly enhance the socio economic empowerment of tribal women.

This chapter addresses the growth of migration and the contribution of migrant labour to both western and developing economies. The ‘dark side’ refers to the exploitation and ill-treatment of employees, particularly migrant workers, across the world. The focus here is on legal migrant workers, but many of the scenarios covered also apply to marginalized workers, minority groups, and undocumented migrants. The chapter identifies the main types of migrants and their employment problems. The extent of worldwide migration is examined next, and the key differences between an expatriate's position and that of a migrant worker are identified. After this, the chapter explores the impact of different national regulations on migrant workers and the importance of temporary staffing agencies (TSAs), as well as the role and responsibility of multinationals. It concludes with calls for more monitoring of the activities of multinationals and a more humane approach by governments towards their migrant workers.

Abstract There is considerable research evidence indicating that rates of psychiatric disorders are higher in homeless individuals, although, in some cases, psychiatric illnesses may lead to homelessness. It is likely that in spite of high rates of illness, individuals who are homeless or are in insecure housing may be more reluctant to seek help. Thus, it is of paramount importance to enable homeless people with mental illness to access mental health services easily, which is a worldwide challenge. Homelessness and psychiatric disorders are both strongly affected by other social determinants and thus may feed into each other. A significant improvement in the health of these persons can be through outreach programmes leading to early detection of psychiatric disorders. In view of the great vulnerability to which the homeless are exposed, the special psychological treatments they may need are obvious, but interventions require joined up thinking between health, housing, employment, education, justice, and other ministries. Each nation may need to develop optimal models of social care and rehabilitation that rely on the particular research-driven needs of homeless people with mental illnesses. In order to improve the availability of services to the homeless, it is also important to consider and value their experiences and opinions. Many underprivileged groups such as refugees and migrants, adolescents, those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, LGBTIQ, and homeless individuals may need extra input. The well-recognized association between homelessness and mental illness needs to be addressed at multiple levels in any society.

The objective of this student project was for the students to develop, conduct, and supervise a training course for basic work place applications (word processing and business graphics). Students were responsible for the planning, organizing and the teaching of the course. As participants, underprivileged adolescents took part in order to learn the handling of IT applications and therefore, improve their job skills and have a better chance to get into employment. Therefore the adolescents do the role of trainees at the course. Our students worked with a population that is continually overlooked by the field. As a result, the students trained to design and implement training courses, exercised to manage projects and increased their social responsibility and awareness concerning the way of life and living conditions of other young people. The underprivileged adolescents learned to use important business applications and increased their job skills and job chances. The overall design of our concept required extensive resources to supervise and to steer the students and the adolescents. The lecturers had to teach and to counsel the students and had to be on “stand-by” just in case they were needed to solve critical situations between the two groups of young people.

The research analyses the way in which online education can be addressed to very specific target groups: a) training business consultants working with firms in counseling these companies how to deal with applying the equal opportunity principle in the selection or the maintaining of persons with special needs in the company; b) training human resources departments in companies how to maintain people with special needs and how to evaluate what change management processes are needed in order to be successful for this goal; c) teaching company management how the company can focus on the process of equal opportunities in personnel selection without diminishing the quality of the services and products offered, without having a diminished profit margin or/and an increased complaints statistics and strategically planning an investment that reflects a modern vision related to corporate social responsibility. The project in which the implementation of this research has been taking place is a two-year Leonardo Da Vinci project, UEmploy (510784-LLP-1-2010-1-RO-LEONARDO-LMP) with 7 partners from BG, HU, FI, IE and RO. What this project underlines is that although in Europe employment inclusion is an important objective there is no common standardized scheme. The online component of the training is meant to contribute to the standardization of the approaches and contents. The focus of the project is modern rehabilitation, a range of services and processes designed to enable all disabled people to live their lives as fully as possible. For organizations, SMEs and professionals the project provides an opportunity to introduce/train innovative employment inclusion and rehabilitation approaches in dealing with people with disabilities throughout the work processes. The project develops methods and professional support in English and partners\' languages to help SMEs employ people with disabilities. The scheme manager’s and the consultant’s handbooks and materials for company management and HR departments have already been developed and tested in each partner country. Materials have been validated by social partners and a blended learning system is in place for all the categories of beneficiaries described. UEmploy looks into modern rehabilitation, a range of services and processes focused on enabling all disabled people to live their lives as fully as possible. At the same time, the project addresses representatives of the employers: organizations, SMEs and professionals. For this category of beneficiaries UEmploy provides training opportunities in the direction of innovative employment inclusion and rehabilitation approaches for people with disabilities. Thus UEmploy addresses the matter of employment inclusion both from the perspective of the employee and that of the employers facilitating access and working to improve approach. Many European countries still have a very low rate of disabled employment despite the progress made by the EU over the past decade towards this policy. People with disabilities are still at a major scale excluded from work activities which could provide financial support and also ensure an active profesional life and development. However, more and more companies realise that inclusive employment is an effective strategy to meet their social responsibility. With no real experience in the field employers are not properly equiped to develop on employment inclusion. Therefore, proactive cooperation with employers is necesary to counteract stereotypes and encourage them to understand skills and capacities of people with disabilities.

Under the background of the rapid urbanization, suburbs have become the forefront of urban living space. Compared with the dwellers in the city center, the daily behavior characteristics of suburban dwellers are more varied due to the commuting distance and employment opportunities. Thus, if the city governor only based on the socio-economic or population density index to allocate the public resources, it might result waste. In here, we attempt to discuss the approach to reduce this kind of waste through dynamic behavior perspectives. Based on the above, Shenyang (the provincial capital city which located in the Northeast of China) was selected as a sample. The research collected LBS (Location Based Service) big data of 24 hours for seven consecutive days. Based on ST-DBSCAN clustering algorithm, the movement trajectories and stop points of 818 suburban dwellers in southern suburbs were recognized. Then, the activity type of each stop point was identified with time-space threshold method, including working behavior, residential behavior, non-work behavior outside home. Afterwards, based on the time rhythm characteristics of working and residential behaviors，the dwellers were divided in four types of daily activity patterns: Normal-time-rhythm group, Early-time-restricted- rhythm group Late-time–restricted-rhythm group, Dual-time-restricted-rhythm group. Based on the classification, the spatio-temporal distribution of the daily space of the residents during the weekdays and weekends are measured, the methods of geo-visualization and analysis of variance are applied to compare the differences in the daily activity space of different groups. The result indicated that the time constraints indeed affect the spatio-temporal distribution of non-working behaviors outside home in different ways, which further affects the use of city and community functional space. The finding focus on the different demands of groups of different lifestyles, providing a certain reference for the facilities time management and optimization of public facilities configuration policy.

Europe must avoid losing manufacturing SMEs. However, presenting distinct maturity levels, these companies have a hard time fulfilling the necessary ecological sustainability level. Controversially, despite the intense debate about digital technologies, there is still a need for knowledge in the industrial world about the impact of these technologies to make manufacturing SMEs environmentally friendly. According to data made available by Stone Portuguese Federation, in 2019, the Portuguese Ornamental Stone sector (OS.Pt): (i) exported to 116 countries; (ii) ranked 9th in the World International Stone Trade; (iii); was the second country in the world in international trade per capita; (iv) exports covered imports by 660%; (v) 45% of exports were to countries outside Europe and (vi) had a total turnover of EUR1,230 million. Mainly comprised of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the OS.Pt sector is relevant for the Portuguese Economy, representing over 16,600 direct jobs, and is one of the main generators of private employment in inland regions has registered an average annual growth rate in turnover of 5.13% over the last ten years and has generated around 500 new jobs from 2016. By using the Portuguese stone sector case study, considering the investment to improve the operations towards digital, a framework was designed and used in five groups of forty stone manufacturing SMEs, each representing a digital level. Through a quantitative methodology based on five years after the investment, depending on the technology used and level of investment in digital technologies, it was found a potential reduction of CO2 emissions between 10.7% and 35.1%.

This project aims to identify, document, interpret and disseminate current self-regulated community practices in social housing neighborhoods in the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, in 2021. The main, specific case study is the neighborhood of Balteiro. We present methodologies and the first outcomes of the ethnographic work developed at Balteiro, namely an analysis of the origins, dynamics, needs and current challenges in face of post-pandemic scenarios in the present and future of two local initiatives: Associação Recreativa Clube Balteiro Jovem (ARCBJ) and (School Workshop of cartoning and sewing (Escola Oficina); additionally, it presents a first set of hypotheses on how Design may contribute to the resonance of these initiatives in other, equivalent similar social contexts.We argue that COVID-19 pandemic regulations, as well as their economic consequences, have had a significant impact on the nature and viability of the aforementioned practices: as a consequence of social distancing and a phobia of the collective, long periods of lockdown and a radical emptying of public space, prior models of creative communal practice will need re-assessing and re-invention.In turn, the proposal to document and disseminate these practices through Design aims to strengthen the mechanisms of empathy and social solidarity among citizens. The research intends to branch out into intuitive, practical and structural issues: preliminary work has been carried out with the Vila Nova de Gaia City Council and the aforementioned residents' associations ARCBJ and Escola Oficina. Emic data is being collected through methods of direct and indirect observation, including ethnographic interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. Audiovisual and photographic content will be collected towards a bank of resources for further scrutiny and employment in exploratory approaches. The research is therefore aimed at providing strategic outcomes, future replication, contextual adaptation and upscaling to national and international contexts. Inner dynamics in these neighborhoods have always tended to be suspicious of external presence and influence, often relying on self-initiated community practices: sports, recreational and cultural activities and professional training in crafts, examples of successful autonomous processes of civic development throughout the years. This contrasts with the broader socio-cultural context of Portugal, where the norm points towards a reliance on institutional tutelage.This traditional reliance has become an issue in the current scenario of a global pandemic: citizens have witnessed the evidence that former socio-cultural practices may come to struggle in current and emerging scenarios. As such, there is an inevitability in enquiring on the nature, purpose, viability and impact of self-initiated community activities in a post-COVID scenario. Furthermore: can we mediate this socio-cultural reconfiguration on a local scale, towards a broader, networked process of regeneration?

Con el cambio político y económico hacia formas de organización neoliberales, en el mundo se
 han propagado nuevas formas en que los gobiernos gestionan el territorio y sus recursos. Lo
 que en un principio se promovió como formas más competitivas para el desarrollo económico y
 social, a la vuelta de los años se traduce en formas de organización que han fortalecido a los
 grupos de poder económico, pero que han generado efectos adversos para la población, al
 contar con cada vez menos acceso a empleos de calidad, a servicios públicos básicos y a
 mejores remuneraciones. En las zonas urbanas los efectos se traducen en una exacerbada
 polarización socio espacial, contrastando zonas de gran calidad urbana y ambiental, con otras
 precarias ausentes de los mínimos satisfactores para la calidad de vida. En este trabajo se
 analizan diversas variables censales como población, empleo, ingreso y crecimiento por sector
 socioeconómico para medir las condiciones de vida en las zonas metropolitanas de México en
 el período 1989-2009, considerando este lapso como el de promoción y ejecución de la política
 neoliberal en el país. La intención es constatar si los cambios propuestos son en realidad
 catalizadores para el desarrollo económico y social, en la población de las zonas urbanas, o si
 por el contrario los efectos de la política neoliberal han resultado adversos para la población
 urbana. With the political and economic change towards neoliberal forms of organization in the world
 have spread new ways in which governments manage the land and its resources. What was
 initially promoted as being more competitive for economic and social development, along the
 years translates into forms of organization that have strengthened the economic power groups,
 but have generated adverse effects for the population, to have less access to quality jobs, to basic public services and worst payment for its jobs. In urban areas the effects translate into
 socio-spatial polarization exacerbated contrasting areas urban and environmental of high
 quality, with other precarious absent satisfactions for the minimum quality of life. In this paper
 we analyze several census variables such as population, employment, income and
 socioeconomic sector growth to measure the conditions of life in the metropolitan areas of
 Mexico in the period 1989-2009, considering this period as the promotion and implementation of
 policy neoliberal in the country. The intent is to determine whether the proposed changes are
 actually catalysts for economic and social development in the urban population, or if instead the
 effects of neoliberal policies have resulted adversed to urban population.

The Employment Rights Bill (ERB) currently making its way through parliament is a big deal for low-paid workers, who stand to gain the most from its changes. But it’s also a big deal for the country, with the row between business groups and unions over its impacts being testament to that. This year’s Low Pay Britain report – the 15th in an annual series taking stock of low-paid work in the UK –takes on three important questions as the ERB heads towards becoming law. First, we look at the big picture: what does the evidence say about the ERB’s likely economic impacts? Second, with much of the detail missing from the ERB’s provisions relating to hours insecurity, we explore what those details should be. Finally, we look ahead to the Government’s planned reforms to employment status, and ask how progress can be made on ambitions to reduce bogus self-employment.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had direct and indirect effects on religiously marginalised groups, exacerbating existing inequities and undermining the ambitions of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reach (and include) those ‘furthest behind’. Religious inequalities intersect with other inequalities to compound vulnerabilities, particularly the convergence of low socioeconomic status, gender inequality, and location-specific discrimination and insecurity, to shape how people are experiencing the pandemic. This policy briefing, written by Dr Joanna Howard (IDS) and a co-author (who must remain anonymous for reasons of personal security), draws on research with religious minorities living in urban slums in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states in India. Findings show that religiously motivated discrimination reduced their access to employment and statutory services during the pandemic. Harassment and violence experienced by Muslims worsened; and loss of livelihoods, distress, and despair were also acutely experienced by dalit Hindus. Government response and protection towards lower caste and religious minorities has been insufficient.

As countries across the globe pursue economic development, the improvement of individual and societal well-being has increasingly become an overarching goal. In the global South, in particular, high levels of poverty, inequality and deteriorating social fabrics remain significant challenges. Programmes and projects for addressing these challenges have had some, but limited, impact. This occasional paper analyses well-being in Gauteng province from a capability perspective, using a standard ‘capability approach’ consistent with Amartya Sen’s first conceptualisation, which was then operationalised by Martha Nussbaum. Earlier research on poverty and inequality in the Gauteng City-Region was mainly based on objective characteristics of well-being such as income, employment, housing and schooling. Using data from the Gauteng City-Region Observatory’s Quality of Life Survey IV for 2015/16, our capability approach provides a more holistic view of well-being by focusing on both objective and subjective aspects simultaneously. The results confirm the well-known heterogeneity in human conditions among South African demographic groups, namely that capability achievements vary across race, age, gender, income level and location. However, we observe broader (in both subjective and objective dimensions) levels of deprivation that are otherwise masked in the earlier studies. In light of these findings, the paper recommends that policies are directly targeted towards improving those capability indicators where historically disadvantaged and vulnerable groups show marked deprivation. In addition, given the spatial heterogeneities in capability achievements, we recommend localised interventions in capabilities that are lagging in certain areas of the province.

Cambodia, following more than two decades of impressive economic performance and development, is fast becoming one of Asia’s new tiger economies. Sustained robust GDP growth of over 7 percent has supported improvements in physical infrastructure (economic and social) and substantial poverty reduction. This economic improvement, mostly made possible by rapid manufacturing (garment industry), construction and tourism growth, is paving the way for rapid urbanisation. The pace of urbanisation combined with demographic change, improved access to education, and widespread internet use is playing a significant role in shaping and changing perceptions, thoughts and behaviours, especially among women. This report attempts to observe these changes through a gendered analysis of a nationally representative survey, conducted by CDRI from October 2017 to January 2018, of 1,600 Cambodian citizens (aged 16 to 65 years) in 101 (72 rural, 29 urban) villages in five provinces and Phnom Penh (Eng et al. 2019). The survey questionnaire comprised 101 questions covering six sections: demographics, identity and values, trust and respect, outlook, political participation, and media. This report uses the survey responses as its sole primary data and classifies them into four main themes: family, attitudes towards community, political knowledge and attitudes, and future expectations. Each theme is divided into subthemes for detailed analysis, as follows: Family:generational gap, decision making in the family, decision making about marriage. Attitudes towards community: trust and caring about country, community participation. Political knowledge and attitudes: gender perspectives on leadership and social and political participation, concern about social issues and services. Future expectations: the country’s future direction, individuals’ future prospects. The following techniques and methods were used to analyse the data: Women were not treated as a homogeneous group, but as equipped with seven different attributes: age, place of residence, level of education, marital status, type of employment, employment status, mobility and internet use. The aim was to observe whether or not women with different attributes have different perceptions towards certain issues. For place of residence, the survey question was open, but for this report, responses were categorised into Phnom Penh residents and non-Phnom Penh residents. For level of education, the survey categories were 1) never attended school, 2) primary school, 3) secondary school, 4) high school, 5) vocational training, 6) university (tertiary education), 7) other, 8) no response. This nominal data was changed into basic education or lower, and higher than basic education.1 For marital status, the survey categories were 1) single (never been married), 2) married, 3) widow, 4) separated/divorced, 5) no response. These were converted into single and non-single. For type of employment, the survey categories were 1) self-employed (own business), 2) homemaker/family caretaker, 3) working in family business/farm, 4) paid government employee, 5) paid employee for non-profit organisation, 6) paid employee for a private business/for profit, 7) unemployed, 8) student, 9) no response. The report converted these into paid and non-paid employment. For mobility, the survey focused on migration, which was converted into mobility. SPSS was used for descriptive analysis and crosstab was applied to generate comparative data on the seven selected attributes across the four themes selected for the study. Independent Sample T-Test was applied to compare the mean scores of two independent groups on each variable, data allowing. Crosstabulation generated 567 tables, analysis of which was beyond the scope of this report. The following criteria were therefore used to reduce the number of tables: Relevance of the survey questions to the four themes selected for the study. Percentage differences between the responses against each attribute. Data allowing, differences were ascertained with statistical testing; otherwise, a 10 percent difference was used as the threshold. Frequency with which the same or similar questions are raised, discussed and prioritised by government, scholars, research surveys and studies.

This brief sets out key considerations linked to the promotion of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among undocumented migrants residing in Rome, Italy. We focus on strategies to equitably distribute COVID-19 vaccines. Evidence from Italy is applicable to other contexts where vaccine administration is tied to “vaccine passports” or “immunity passes”. Undocumented migrants have been considered as some of the “hardest to reach” groups to engage in COVID-19 vaccination outreach. This brief uses the term undocumented migrant or migrant for brevity, but we refer to people living without formal Italian citizenship, refugee status or right to remain in Italy. This brief explores the everyday context of undocumented migrants lives, and how experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated difficult conditions. It links emerging vulnerabilities to perceptions of vaccines, and we suggest that migrants orientate themselves towards the vaccines within frameworks which prioritise economic survival. In many cases, migrants have accepted a COVID-19 vaccine to access paid employment, yet this has often generated mistrust in the state and healthcare system. Accordingly, this brief considers how vaccines can be distributed equitably to boost trust and inclusion in the post-pandemic world. This brief draws primarily on the ethnographic evidence collected through interviews and observations with undocumented migrants in Rome, along with civil society representatives and health workers between December 2021 and January 2022. This brief was developed for SSHAP by Sara Vallerani (Rome Tre University), Elizabeth Storer (LSE) and Costanza Torre (LSE). It was reviewed by Santiago Ripoll (IDS, University of Sussex), with further reviews by Paolo Ruspini (Roma Tre University) and Eloisa Franchi (Université Paris Saclay, Pavia University). The research was funded through the British Academy COVID-19 Recovery: G7 Fund (COVG7210058). Research was based at the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, London School of Economics. The brief is the responsibility of SSHAP.

The Panamanian economy performed spectacularly starting in 1989, growing at an average real rate of 6% per year for thirty years. It was the highest registered in the Latin American Region and one of the highest globally. In addition, important achievements were obtained that were not achieved in other countries inside and outside the region. The middle class expanded and strengthened. The general poverty level fell from 37.9% in 2000 to 21.5% in 2019, and the extreme poverty level from 21.9% to 10.0%, mainly due to transfers from low-income households. Income inequalities improved by reducing the GINI coefficient from 56.6% in 2000 to 49.8% in 2019, although these were high concerning other Latin American countries. As a result, Panama entered the group of countries classified as high-income by the World Bank. Plus, the economy has recently been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic—this immobilized economic activity due to the high population. Density and contagion in the metropolitan area caused by overcrowding in low-income neighborhoods extend its destructive impact on the rest of the country. This required reducing and temporarily closing commercial, service, and production activities. These actions caused a sharp drop in GDP and GDP per capita, the largest in the region and one of the largest in percentage terms globally, a sharp contraction of imports, a rapid expansion of unemployment, a collapse in tax revenues, financial difficulties in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and a loss of income in low-income and informal groups, and in those of the middle class with suspended employment contracts. A post-Covid-19 growth recovery should not be defined as a return to pre-pandemic levels of economic activity likely to external shocks but as a turning point towards more productive, shock-resistant, and inclusive growth patterns. Growth will happen, although it could be slow and gradual initially. A significant part of daily economic activity operates in a consumer economy environment. At this juncture, it will be essential for consumers to secure their income to maintain a standard spending rate in a context in which the pandemic's adverse impact on Panamanians' health is diminishing.

Migrant integration allows migrants to contribute to the economic, social, cultural and political life of the country they migrate to; it is also important for social cohesion and inclusive growth. By examining how migrants fare relative to the majority population in key life domains, this report seeks to illustrate the challenges, successes and opportunities for migrant integration in Ireland today. Monitoring integration can provide crucial information for policy and public conversations around migration, and the profile of migrants in Ireland. Ireland’s migration context has changed considerably in recent years: there have been relatively high numbers of arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland, and a marked increase in the number of people seeking international protection since the last monitoring report on integration. A rise in the cost of living and an acute shortage of housing continue to be significant challenges for all living in Ireland, including many migrants. This report is the ninth in a series of monitoring reports on integration that began in 2011. It considers how migrants – generally defined as those born outside the State – fare relative to the Irish-born population across four key life domains: employment, education, social inclusion and active citizenship. The report also provides updates on migration and integration policy. Integration indicators are based on high-quality, nationally representative survey data for the latest available time points, supplemented with administrative statistics on forced migrants, where possible. Key headline figures are presented in Table A: individual chapters disaggregate migrant groups by region of origin. Chapter 1 presents recent trends in migration and provides a profile of the migrant population in Ireland. The rise in immigration since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic continued into 2024, nearly reaching its 2007 peak. The 2007 peak was dominated by migration from within the European Union (EU): recent patterns indicate a shift towards non-EU migration, for work, study and international protection. In 2023, 22% of the population were born outside the State: just over half of this subgroup was born in the United Kingdom (UK – including Northern Ireland) or the EU, while the remainder was born across a diverse range of non-EU countries. This is an increase from 20% born outside the State in 2021.

The survey presented in this report reveals that Nordic citizens are concerned about climate change. Many people are willing to increase efforts to fight climate change, even if this entails a personal contribution in terms of higher taxes or behavioural change. The survey shows that different social groups perceive the impacts of climate change and climate mitigation policies in different ways. In general, attitudes towards climate policies and perceptions regarding their fairness are conditioned by socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, employment status, type of housing and transport behaviour. General attitudes towards climate change and climate policies The first part of this report explores general attitudes towards climate change and climate policies. This section shows that seven in ten (71%) respondents think that climate change is a serious or very serious problem, particularly among the youngest age group (18-29 years). Three in four (74%) interviewed persons in this group share this view. Those with a university degree are more concerned about climate change (83%) than those with primary or secondary education (57% and 62%, respectively). Approximately half (48-51%) of respondents in all age groups agree that more financial resources should be invested in preventing climate change, even if this would imply an increase in taxes. The survey results show that women in the Nordic Region are more concerned about climate change than men (79% compared to 64%). It also reveals that people living in urban areas are more worried about climate change (82%) than those who live in towns and suburbs (68%) or in rural areas (62%). Urban dwellers are also more positive about investing more resources in preventing climate change (59%) than those who live in rural areas (39%) and in towns and suburbs (46%). More than half of the respondents (52%) agree that taking further action on climate change would be beneficial for the economy. Students, unemployed and retired people are more likely to agree with this view (55%, 57% and 55%, respectively) than those currently in employment, including the self-employed (50%). Those employed in carbon-intensive sectors are less positive about the expected economic impact of climate policies than those who work in other economic sectors (41% compared to 55%). They are also more concerned about the risk of job losses during the transition to a low-carbon economy than those employed in sectors with lower carbon intensity (37% compared to 24%). Concerns about this issue are also higher among those who live in rural areas (31%) or towns and suburbs (30%) compared to those who live in cities (22%). Present and future effects of climate change mitigation policies on individuals and households The central part of the survey explores perceptions regarding the present and future impacts of climate policies. Such challenges are perceived differently depending on specific sociodemographic conditions. Nearly one fourth (23%) of respondents state that high energy costs mean they are struggling to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature. Those living in houses report being more impacted (27%) than those living in apartments (18%), and those using fossil fuels to heat their homes are most affected (44%). The risk of energy poverty is also higher among non-EU immigrants to the Nordic Region. Those who say they are struggling to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature range from 23% among Nordic-born citizens to 37% among non-EU immigrants. Nearly three in ten respondents (28%) have modified their transportation behaviour during the last year due to high fuel costs. This proportion is substantially greater among those living in towns and suburbs (32%) compared to those who live in rural areas (29%) or cities (23%). The majority of the Nordic population (52%) states that current climate policies have a neutral effect on their household economies. However, 28% of respondents say they are negatively impacted by climate policies in economic terms. Men report being negatively affected more frequently than women (33% vs 22%, respectively). People who live in houses are more likely to claim they are being negatively impacted than people who live in apartments (31% and 23%, respectively). Nearly half (45%) of the respondents in the Nordic Region agree that climate initiatives will improve health and well-being, and half of the respondents (50%) think that climate change initiatives will lead to more sustainable lifestyles in their area. However, half (51%) of the Nordic population expect to see increases in prices and the cost of living as a consequence of climate policies, and those who believe that climate policies will create jobs and improve working conditions in the areas where they live (31% and 24%, respectively) are outnumbered by those who believe the opposite (35% and 34%, respectively). Fairness of climate policies The last section of the report looks at how the Nordic people perceive the fairness of climate policies in distributional terms. In the survey, the respondents were asked to judge to what extent they agree or disagree that everyone in their country or territory is equally affected by initiatives to fight climate change regardless of personal earnings, gender, age, country of origin and where they live – cities or rural areas. The results show that the Nordic people believe climate change initiatives affect citizens in different ways depending on their demographic, socioeconomic and territorial backgrounds. More than half of the respondents (56%) disagree that everyone is equally affected by initiatives to fight climate change regardless of earnings. Only 22% agree with this statement. Younger age groups are more pessimistic than older age groups on this point (66% in the 18-29 age group compared to 41% in the 65+ group). Almost half of respondents (48%) agree that climate policies are fair from a gender perspective, while 25% disagree with this statement and 23% are neutral. Roughly one in three (30%) respondents in the Nordic Region agree that people are equally affected by climate change initiatives regardless of age, 41% disagree with this statement and 25% are neutral. More than one third (35%) of the Nordic population agree that everyone is equally affected by initiatives to fight climate change regardless of the country of origin, while 34% of them disagree. More than half of respondents (56%) think that the impact of climate initiatives differs between rural and urban areas, while only 22% think that all areas are equally affected. Respondents who live in cities are more likely to respond that climate policy impacts differ between rural and urban areas (60%) than respondents who live in rural areas (55%) and towns and suburbs (53%). One third (33%) of respondents in the survey think that the Sámi population is affected by climate change initiatives to the same extent as the rest of the population. In Greenland, a majority of the population (62%) agrees that the indigenous population in Greenland is equally affected by measures to combat climate change. The results from this survey conducted in the autumn of 2022, show that the population in the Nordic Region perceive the impacts of climate mitigation policies in different ways. These results can raise awareness and stimulate debate about the implementation of climate mitigation policies for a just green transition.

We believe the climate crisis will be resolved in cities. Today, while cities occupy only 2% of the Earth's surface, 57% of the world's population lives in cities, and by 2050, it will jump to 68% (UN, 2018). Currently, cities consume over 75% of natural resources, accumulate 50% of the global waste and emit up to 80% of greenhouse gases (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017). Cities generate 70% of the global gross domestic product and are significant drivers of economic growth (UN-Habitat III, 2016). At the same time, cities sit on the frontline of natural disasters such as floods, storms and droughts (De Sherbinin et al., 2007; Major et al., 2011; Rockström et al., 2021). One of the sustainability pathways to reduce the environmental consequences of the current extract-make-dispose model (or the "linear economy") is a circular economy (CE) model. A CE is defined as "an economic system that is based on business models which replace the 'end-of-life' concept with reducing, alternatively reusing, recycling and recovering materials in production/distribution and consumption processes" (Kirchherr et al., 2017, p. 224). By redesigning production processes and thereby extending the lifespan of goods and materials, researchers suggest that CE approaches reduce waste and increase employment and resource security while sustaining business competitiveness (Korhonen et al., 2018; Niskanen et al., 2020; Stahel, 2012; Winans et al., 2017). Organizations such as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Circle Economy help steer businesses toward CE strategies. The CE is also a political priority in countries and municipalities globally. For instance, the CE Action Plan, launched by the European Commission in 2015 and reconfirmed in 2020, is a central pillar of the European Green Deal (European Commission, 2015, 2020). Additionally, more governments are implementing national CE strategies in China (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2018), Colombia (Government of the Republic of Colombia, 2019), Finland (Sitra, 2016), Sweden (Government Offices of Sweden, 2020) and the US (Metabolic, 2018, 2019), to name a few. Meanwhile, more cities worldwide are adopting CE models to achieve more resource-efficient urban management systems, thereby advancing their environmental ambitions (Petit-Boix & Leipold, 2018; Turcu & Gillie, 2020; Vanhuyse, Haddaway, et al., 2021). Cities with CE ambitions include, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Toronto, Peterborough (England) and Umeå (Sweden) (OECD, 2020a). In Europe, over 60 cities signed the European Circular Cities Declaration (2020) to harmonize the transition towards a CE in the region. In this policy brief, we provide insights into common challenges local governments face in implementing their CE plans and suggest recommendations for overcoming these. It aims to answer the question: How can the CE agenda be governed in cities? It is based on the results of the Urban Circularity Assessment Framework (UCAF) project, building on findings from 25 interviews, focus group discussions and workshops held with different stakeholder groups in Umeå, as well as research on Stockholm's urban circularity potential, including findings from 11 expert interviews (Rezaie, 2021). Our findings were complemented by the Circular Economy Lab project (Rezaie et al., 2022) and experiences from working with municipal governments in Sweden, Belgium, France and the UK, on CE and environmental and social sustainability.

Civic engagement is “how citizens participate in the life of a community to improve conditions for others or to help shape the community’s future” (Adler and Goggin 2005, p. 236). In Cambodia, civic engagement has been promoted by civil society organisations (CSOs) since 1993. The organisations covered by the abbreviation “CSO” are many in Cambodia, but they consist of, and are not limited to, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), youth associations, community-based organisations (CBOs), self-help groups and small clubs. There are around 3,000 NGOs registered officially with the Ministry of Interior as local NGOs and with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation as international NGOs (INGOs) (Suárez and Marshall 2014). The core development work of many of these NGOs is not focused entirely on human rights, democratic development and governance, and environmental issues: they are also working to improve livelihoods by integrating rural development approaches within their agendas (Mansfield 2008). The exact figure of CBOs remains obscure (Brown 2008; UNCT 2009) as some have not registered officially with the relevant authorities while others have merely emerged to address a particular development issue and then halted operations. CBOs still exist in every village and are visible or invisible to outsiders (Öjendal 2013). Those NGOs and CBOs focus more broadly on local development; however, there has been an emerging trend of NGOs funding youth civic engagement, seeking not only to enhance youth capacity for employment opportunities, but also to engage in democratic development and participation (OECD 2017). The ultimate aim of promoting youth engagement in civic activities is to mobilise young adults to be members of NGOs and CSOs (BBC Media Action and UNDP 2014; Ginwright and James 2002; Rogers, Mediratta and Shah 2012; Terriquez 2015). Past studies have demonstrated that young people tend not to associate with CSOs (UNDP 2010; CDRI 2017; Heng, Vong and Chheat 2014). In the context of funding channelled towards youth programs, the relevant NGOs and CSOs have a role in promoting youth civic engagement. The question is, could CSOs engage more fully and successfully with youth, not only to promote capacity development for employment opportunities, but also to enable civic activities, especially when those young people are disenchanted? This is coupled with the rise of political pressure on particular civic activities of CSOs after the 2013 national election, and constitutes a core context for this study. At a time of changing “space” for CSOs, this study will address the following questions: 1) How do CSOs, including organisations, associations and clubs, keep young people engaged? 2) How do CSOs motivate and enrol young people in civic activities at a time when the “space” relating to civil society and polity in the country is changing? and 3) How can CSOs be supported to provide long-term mobilisation of young people to sustain civic engagement? Addressing these questions will contribute to an understanding of youth and civic engagement in an era of changing space, and advance previous studies in the country (Mansfield 2008; BBC Media Action and UNDP 2014; Heng, Vong and Chheat 2014; OECD 2017; Peou and Zinn 2015; Eng and Hughes 2017; Eng et al. 2019). This paper draws on comparative discussions with three types of organisation chosen for this study in terms of their strategies relating to, and effectiveness in, promoting civic engagement according to their agenda. The first is an independent organisation – A – receiving funding from international donors. Organisation A’s program activities and approaches to promote youth civic engagement are, however, characterised as “co-optation or integration” as they implement their program with local government/ local authorities, and the ruling party. The second organisation – B – received funding from international donors but operates its programs independently. The third organisation – C – is classified as State-dependent. It is operated in alignment with the State, and has a central office headed by a senior government official. This organisation’s structure is entwined with the State system, from national to provincial, down to commune and village levels. This paper argues that organisation C, the State’s and ruling party’s de facto union of youths, dominates civic forms of youth engagement in Cambodia as its operational activities and branches are affiliated with the structures of the State systems and the current leading political party - the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). With sustained financial and political support, organisation C has been capable of engaging more youths to take part in its activities. Meanwhile, organisations A and B have manoeuvred their strategies of civic engagement through limited “spaces”, leveraging activities under the control and monitoring process of the State. In this context, organisation C has been more sustained in promoting youth participation in the activities that it has identified, given the diverse sources of financial support it has access to. Organisations A and B appear less sustainable in terms of their strategies to engage with young people and they rely substantially on international donors to fund their activities. To unpack the preceding arguments further, the remainder of this working paper will begin with: (i) a review of the relevant literature on the “space” CSOs occupy and on civic engagement in Cambodia; and (ii) the detailed methodologies of data collection and data analysis. It will then present: (iii) the empirical results, and (iv) the concluding discussion.