Policy Environment Sample Clauses

Policy Environment. My framework distinguishes between macroeconomic policy and sectoral policy are- nas. In practice, the boundary lines between macro and sectoral policies may not com- pletely distinct. Macroeconomic policy areas, including fiscal, monetary, exchange- rate, and trade policies, can be undermined or circumvented by sectoral policies such as tariff exemptions and export subsidies. For each type of policy environment, I of external threat, particularly if used in conjunction with the Correlates of War project’s data on military capabilities (Singer, 1988). evaluate the degree of volatility and the degree of particularism. In the work that has posited a link between the number of veto players and the VoC, the volatility of the policy environment has been of chief concern. Specifically, the degree to which economic actors fear radical shifts in economic policy. But there is an important difference between a government changing policy in a consistent manner in response to an external event and a government changing policy in a haphazard manner for domestic political reasons. If, for example, an external shock occurs that would warrant some sort of stimulus according to orthodox macroeconomic theory, a mechanical evaluation of changes in policy on the ground may lead one to characterize as volatile, a policy environment in which investors might not actually fear radical policy change. Thus, in coding the volatility of the policy environment, I try to be as clear and explicit as possible in indicating when a given policy change might be a predictable response to external circumstances and not evidence of volatility. I make this evaluation based on secondary analyses of the global economic circumstances of the time and primary and secondary reports on subjective perceptions regarding policy volatility.14 I argue that a particularistic policy environment incentivizes economic actors to engage in competition for political access that narrows the range of economic gov- ernance institutions they can establish. In a broad sense, particularistic economic policies are those that benefit specific groups at the expense of overall economic wel- fare. Unfortunately, not all economic policy changes involve pareto-improvements. Even if a policy change improves the economy as a whole, there are usually some who 14This level of nuance, while critical, raises the danger of ad hoc rationalizations. In combating this possibility, I make as transparent and strong a case as I can and le...

Policy Environment. Macroeconomic Policy

Policy Environment. With shifting regimes and sudden changes in the rules of the political game, this framework suggests that the inability of the many veto player governments to over- come problems of collective action and the subsequent regime-uncertainty in this period should create a highly particularistic policy environment, despite the systemic vulnerabilities. Macroeconomic Policy Macroeconomic policy in this period was uncoordinated and narrowly targeted. The technocrats, who had been insulated by Sarit and Thanom were suddenly exposed and expected to meet politically-motivated ends distinct from stable growth. Thai monetary policy became decidedly expansionary under the civilian administration, with politicians directing the BoT to take a more activist role in both expanding the money supply. The benefits were targeted toward particular industries and ge- ographic regions (Muscat, 1994). For example, Finance Minister Boonchu estab- lished a ‘money for transformation’ program that allocated money directly to local government(Anuchitworawong, 2007; ▇▇▇▇▇▇, 1998). Significant banking reforms were enacted in 1979, with the purpose of diluting family ownership and limiting the power and discretion of the key banks (▇▇▇▇▇, 1998). Fiscal policy became much less con- servative in this period with money flowing much more freely, with little regard to de- creasing revenues. By the end of the period significant imbalances developed (Muscat, 1994). Trade policy remained dedicated to maximizing state revenues and protecting vulnerability as exogenous and independent. The conclusion considers the possibility that the level of vulnerability might impact the number of veto players. powerful firms that had been targeted for promotion under import substitution. Sectoral policy Once the civilian administration had gained control over the policymaking apparatus, they were expected to deliver policy benefits to those that had elected them. The dual challenge of reduced US assistance and a massive spike in oil prices meant that competition to disburse side-payments was especially fierce. At the same time, the size of the coalition made a the creation of a comprehensive system to provide public goods to voters all but impossible. The result was a highly particularistic sectoral policy environment. High tariffs combined with case-by-case exemptions favored large, connected firms, across the industrial sector. The BoI continued to provide tax-relief based promotion in the period of instabili...

Policy Environment. The Parties acknowledge the importance of a policy environment that facilitates the achievement of expected results of the Program. The Grantee therefore pledges to provide, and cause District Administrations to provide, a policy environment that facilitates the achievement of expected results of the Program.

Policy Environment. WHO serves as the global leader in recommending vaccine policy. Most countries look to WHO for advice on adoption and usage of its pre-­‐qualified vaccines. The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization is the main advisory body that makes recommendations on both adult and child vaccine use worldwide. After consideration by the WHO Director-­‐General, SAGE recommendations eventually become WHO official policy (198). Of the 6 currently available vaccines outlined above, WHO-­‐SAGE has recommended just 2 for routine use in pregnancy. • Influenza -­‐ There is a strong recommendation to use the IIV vaccine anytime in pregnancy. WHO acknowledges that immunization in pregnancy protects both mother and neonate from disease and complications. Pregnant women are also deemed the highest priority group for the vaccine (66). • Tdap/ TT – Tetanus immunization is strongly recommend in pregnancy. Pregnant women and non-­‐pregnant women of childbearing age are encouraged to complete the immunization series. However, pertussis is currently not recommended in pregnancy to protect the newborn due to insufficient evidence on its effectiveness. The tetanus guidance does note that any tetanus-­‐containing vaccine can be used to fulfill the tetanus recommendations (52, 62). • Hepatitis B – The guidance notes that pregnancy and lactation are not contraindications for the vaccine. However, there is no strong recommendation for routine HepB use in pregnancy (9). • H. influenzae type b – There is no recommendation for routine use of H. influenzae type b in pregnancy, although there is recognition of the protective effects of passively-­‐acquired antibodies during the first two months of life (89). • Pneumococcal – The vaccine is currently not recommended for routine use in pregnancy to protect the newborn due to insufficient evidence (103). • Meningococcal – Although it is noted that meningococcal vaccine is considered safe to use in pregnant women, there is no express recommendation for its use to protect the newborn (114).

Policy Environment. The framework employed in this dissertation suggests that the policy environment under the unified military period should be only moderately particularistic. That is, it should be evident that those with centralized power limit the use of state policies for personal benefit because of external pressures. As indicated in previous chapters, I differentiate between micro and macroeconomic policies. Overall, this period plays out as predicted, with a policy environment that was relatively stable and featured broadly-targeted policies in some areas but was prone to particularism in others. Macroeconomic Policy Macroeconomic policy was both stable and decided by military-approved technocrats that by and large placed economy-wide stability and growth over the interests of any particular firms, families, or cronies. Fiscal and monetary policies were geared towards maintaining a stable exchange rate and avoiding inflation (Muscat, 1994). The policy adjustments and fluctuations that occurred over this period were relatively predictable responses to changing external and internal conditions. For example, the government responded to budgetary and current-account deficits in the late 1960s with mild demand-restraint measures, relying on substantial foreign reserves as a cushion (Muscat, 1994). Muscatt notes, “Implicit in this combination of balancing trends and limitations of policy changes to the cautious and incremental is a very important point easily overlooked: with a sound basic framework in place, incrementalism ensured that the government also avoided major mistakes” (Muscat, 1994: 103). The Sarit and Thanom regimes were forced to balance between maximizing par- ticularistic benefits and ensuring overall economic stability. This balancing act was played out in the relationship between the military leadership and Dr. Puey, the senior technocrat. Dr. Puey’s task was to achieve the policy goals set forth by the military: stability and growth. But the top brass also sought to enrich themselves and their political supporters in the military. Sarit and Thanom, not being trained in economics, had to rely on conservative technocrats like Dr. Puey to determine how many particularistic policies they could pursue before it endangered overall eco- nomic stability and growth. But because conservative technocrats prefer almost no particularistic policies, the Junta required some way to determine when a recommen- dation made by the technocrat is absolutely critical to overall...