Policy Advice in Multi-Level Governance Systems: Sub-National Policy Analysts and Analysis

Michael Howlett 한국행정학회 2009 International Review of Public Administration Vol.13 No.3

Despite the existence of a large body of literature on policy analysis, empirical studies of the work of policy analysts are rare, and in the case of analysts working at the sub-national level in multi-level governance systems, virtually non-existent. Many observers decry the lack of even such basic data as how many policy analysts work in sub-national government, on what subjects, and with what effect. This is true in many countries, for example, the U.S., Germany, and Canada, all federal systems with extensive sub-national governments but where what little empirical work exists focuses on government at the national level. In most cases, in justifying their observations and conclusions observers rely on only one or two quite dated works, on very partial survey results, or on anecdotal case studies and interview research. This article reports the findings of a 2008–2009 survey aimed specifically at examining the background and training of provincial policy analysts in Canada, the types of techniques they employ in their jobs, and what they do in their work on a day-by-day basis. The resulting profile of sub-national policy analysts presented here reveals several substantial differences between analysts working for national governments and their sub-national counterparts, with important implications for training and for the ability of nations to accomplish their long-term policy goals.

The value of insect pollination to yield of oilseed rape (Brassica rapa) in Bangladesh

Islam Rabiul,Howlett Brad G.,Chapman Hazel,Haque Md. Azizul,Ahmad Masum 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.1

Brassica rapa L., is a crop grown globally and studies have indicated that insect pollination can improve yields. However, the importance of insect pollination in this crop depends on cultivar reproductive biology, insect pollinator species and their abundances. In Bangladesh, the acreage of B. rapa for oilseed production has been expanding, but little is known about whether insects contribute to yield improvements. Using the commonly grown variety Tori-7, we found that plants with inflorescences left exposed to flower visiting insects (body width > 1.5 mm) had a 30.8% greater seed yield compared to those where insect flower visitors were excluded. Of 794 insect flower visiting individuals recorded from observation and trapping surveys conducted across four separate fields, Apis bees (four spp.) were the most abundant (66.1%), followed by flies Musca domestica (14.7%), Sepsis fulgens (6.3%) and hoverflies (3.0%; 3 spp; Syrphidae). Other flower visitors included ants, wasps, beetles, butterflies and moths. For the cultivar assessed, we calculated the economic value of oilseed rape was $US 87.5 million per annum in Bangladesh, of which the economic value of insect pollination was $US 26.92 million per annum. Thus, one in every four dollars earned by our Bangladeshi growers resulted from insect crop pollination. This demonstrates to growers the need to promote and protect insect pollination to optimize their economic returns.

What is co-creation and how does it create public value?

Wellstead Adam,Howlett Michael,Chakrabarty Aritra 한국행정학회 2022 International Review of Public Administration Vol.27 No.4

Knowledge-based policy influence organizations such as think tanks or policy hubs seek to develop public value through the kinds of knowledge utilization activities in which they are engaged. But what exactly do they do, how do they do it and how does this result in public value? While historically public managers have long been assumed to be the principal purveyors of public value, now many policy actors in their various activities claim to seek to enhance public value and can do so in a number of distinct ways requiring a reassessment of the kinds of activities and efforts they are engaged in. This paper looks at key differences between longestablished organizations like think tanks and newcomers like policy labs to see how they differ in focus upon co-creation, co-design, and co-production in their search for public value.

Expression patterns of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) during development of the mouse embryo

Jeon, Hyun Yong,Choi, Murim,Howlett, Eric L.,Vozhilla, Nikollaq,Yoo, Byoung Kwon,Lloyd, Joyce A.,Sarkar, Devanand,Lee, Seok-Geun,Fisher, Paul B. Elsevier 2010 Gene expression patterns Vol.10 No.7

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Expression of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is elevated in multiple human cancers including brain tumors, neuroblastomas, melanomas, breast cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, liver cancers, prostate cancers, and esophageal cancers. This gene plays crucial roles in tumor cell growth, invasion, angiogenesis and progression to metastasis. In addition, over-expression of AEG-1 protects primary and transformed cells from apoptosis-inducing signals by activating PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. These results suggest that AEG-1 is intimately involved in tumorigenesis and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for various human cancers. However, the normal physiological functions of AEG-1 require clarification. We presently analyzed the expression pattern of AEG-1 during mouse development. AEG-1 was expressed in mid-to-hindbrain, fronto-nasal processes, limbs, and pharyngeal arches in the early developmental period from E8.5 to E9.5. In addition, at stages of E12.5–E18.5 AEG-1 was localized in the brain, and olfactory and skeletal systems suggesting a role in neurogenesis, as well as in skin, including hair follicles, and in the liver, which are organ sites in which AEG-1 has been implicated in tumor development and progression. AEG-1 co-localized with Ki-67, indicating a role in cell proliferation, as previously revealed in tumorigenesis. Taken together, these results suggest that AEG-1 may play a prominent role during normal mouse development in the context of cell proliferation as well as differentiation, and that temporal regulation of AEG-1 expression may be required during specific stages and in specific tissues during development.</P>

Policy Consulting in the USA: New Evidence from the Federal Procurement Data System -Next Generation

( Caroline Brouillete ),( Jack Coleman ),( Michael Howlett ),( Roman Skorzus ) 한국정책학회 2016 한국정책학회 추계학술발표논문집 Vol.2016 No.-

Governmental use of consultancy services has long been a concern for scholars of public administration, management and political science. Empirical studies of policy-related consulting are scarce, however, with little quantiative data. This is true of the largest and most archetypal case of governmetn contracting, the United States, which has received very little detailed treatment, despite a plethora of anecdota and popular accounts claiming to have documented a pattern of exponential growth in the size and impact of policy-related government contraction. This paper reports on the distribution of the American federal government`s contracting of policy services in the context of several new initiatives on the part of the Obama administration which provide reasonably accurate data related to questions about the size, trends and other aspects of US federal government policy consulting.

Small numbers of bee and non-bee pollinators detected moving between on-farm native plantings and neighbouring grass cropland

Schmidlin F.G.,Sullivan J.J.,Bowie M.H.,Read S.F.J.,Howlett B.G. 한국응용곤충학회 2021 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.24 No.3

On-farm native plantings support insect pollinator diversity, however, they must move between this habitat and crops grown elsewhere on the farm if they are to have any possibility of delivering pollination services that benefit growers. To determine whether pollinator movement occurs, sticky traps to capture verified crop pollinating insects (bees and non-bees species) were placed at distances of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 250 m from 5 year old native plantings into adjacent grass crops on three farms in New Zealand. These were activated twice for 48 h in Dec 2017 and Jan 2018. Captured pollinators were examined for pollen originating from the native plantings. A total of 993 individuals from 13 crop pollinating species were counted of which 506 were examined for pollen. Eight individuals representing three pollinator species were found with pollen sourced from the plantings. Of these, the native bee Lasioglossum sordidum (n = 4) was found to have travelled up to 250 m, while the native flies Melangyna novaezelandiae (n = 3) and Odontomyia sp. (n = 1) travelled up to 150 m. Despite finding few pol linators moving between these habitats, we recommend further studies to assess (1) whether the current study is truly indicative of limited pollinator movement across these habitats at broader temporal (e.g. seasonal and yearly), spatial and system scales (e.g. a broader range of agriculture systems and regions). Such knowledge can inform farmers on whether or not it is worthwhile establishing on-farm native plantings to support pollinators.