National Social Investment Programmes in Nigeria:A Descriptive Analysis of the Socio-Economic Contributions of N-Power Programme in Benue State

This study analysed the socio-economic contributions of N-Power programme amongst the beneficiaries of the scheme in Benue State.Prior to the introduction of N-Power programme,successive administrations in Nigeria have made concerted efforts towards improving the standard of living of the citizenry through the execution of various welfare or social intervention programmes,but not much successes were recorded.Learning from the mistakes of the past regimes,and by way of deliberate state policy,the Buhari’s government initiated a multi-pronged social investment policy,one of which is the N-power programme that came onboard in 2016,which also doubles as the subject of this study.To achieve the goal of this study,a combination of desktop research and survey design was employed.Questionnaires were administered to 390 respondents through a combination of stratified and random sampling techniques.The results of the survey were matched with that of the secondary data obtained through online websites and other related sources.The result indicated that N-Power made positive contributions to the socio-economic life of the beneficiaries in Benue State:specifically,the scheme contributed in poverty eradication,employment generation,skills acquisitions and capacity building.However,some aspect of our findings revealed that the programme has a number of challenges such as:inadequate cash support,delay in monthly cash transfer to beneficiaries,distance participants had to move to their work stations,absence of posting in N-Teach scheme,and lack of adequate working tools amongst others.To salvage this problem the paper recommended the following solutions:expansion of the scheme to cover N-Teach and other aspects,increment in the monthly cash transfer to cushion the high rate of inflation,support for the participants/beneficiaries in transportation and logistics,enrolment of more youth into the various schemes,proper monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the schemes amongst others.

Education As an Instrument for an Active Social Policy： Assumptions, Performance, and Prospects

The crisis of the welfare state caused the change of the approach to the policy of social protection and the tools of its realization in countries of EU. The present trend consists in the transfer of the responsibility for the welfare of the society from the state to local autonomies, businessmen, and, first of all, people themselves. A basic assignment of the present social policy is building active attitudes of persons and families being found in a difficult situation. Help in this has to be： the realization of the watchword work instead of benefit and the broadly understood education as the protection （guarantee） against life risks. Therefore, the author undertook synthesis of the current sociological knowledge on the change of an approach to social policy objectives formulation. Using qualitative methods, she analyzed the content of literature comprising （showing） discourses on the opportunities and constraints associated with the modernization of the existing social policy and selected EU documents.

Spatial Analysis to Identify Urban Areas with Higher Potential for Social Investment

There has been great interest on the part of public and private initiatives in knowing the location of urban areas with potential for investments in social resources. The aim of the present article is to propose a methodology to identify such areas, using the city of São Paulo (Brazil) as a case study. This approach, supported by The Geographic Information System (GIS), is based on multicriteria analysis and quantification of spatial data. The results, presented spatially in a synthesis map, made possible to identify promissory areas for social investment in São Paulo. The method allows us to analyze data at different spatial scales from the GIS base, enabling a systematization to find out areas with higher potential for investment in social equipment, services and facilities. Furthermore, it gives possibility of modeling several variables, thus being adaptable to different geographic areas.

Visualizing Need: Using Data Visualization as a Decision Support Tool in the Formulation of Social Policy

International social work is facing an exponentially growing number of critical challenges in developing nations in meeting essential social needs as well as the distribution of material goods, social and economic resources and the provision, and effective services delivery to populations of need. There is a need to respond rapidly to populations in need and adapt to quickly changing socio-economic conditions. However, the resources needed to evaluate data and make effective decisions to provide support are often limited by the availability of trained data analysts who can interpret statistical findings and make relevant service delivery decisions for such communities of need. Modern computing technology shows promise of providing a graphical evaluation approach to enriching understanding of the available information. Thereby, the need to make critical decisions is augmented for those decision-makers that are working most closely with marginalized groups. A recent research effort undertaken by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) sought to provide administrators and policy-makers with information regarding the associations between social capital, economic development, and food security in the mountain region of Perú. Survey data collection and descriptive statistical analysis were used to provide information on the relationship between socio-economic development services and the emergence of social capital needed to develop effective human self-support systems. This paper demonstrates how to provide a graphical interface between areas of economic need and development initiatives. A visual exploration of data patterns would serve to inform human service decision-makers as they develop policies and programs. Visualization of data helps to enrich meaning and understanding of core areas of population need. This enhanced information format can identify needs for social policy development and improve the delivery of critical services and resources. This paper will provide a conceptual argument for considering data visualization methods in the evaluation of significant needs for, at risk, international populations. The paper will also present a number of examples for improving data evaluation and the understanding of need through data visualization methods through widely available computing technology. Procedures for graphically representing data will be demonstrated using the Perú survey, and applications for social policy formulation will be discussed.

Firm review revelation policy considering social ties among consumers

An optimization model is proposed to analyze the optimal review revelation policies and consumer online social network management strategies of e-commerce firms.The results show that displaying friend reviews to consumers does not necessarily increase firms profits.Only when positive reviews account for a large proportion of all the reviews and when the cost of showing friend reviews is not high,can showing friend reviews be more profitable than not showing such information.The distribution of social ties among consumers can affect firms profits.Even in the case that showing friend reviews to consumers is more profitable,an increase in the proportion of strong ties is not necessarily beneficial to firms.Only when the proportion of positive reviews is large enough,can firms profits increase with the increase in the proportion of strong ties among consumers.Moreover,the degree of consumer distrust in the average quality rating can also affect firms strategies for managing consumer online social networks.As the degree of consumer distrust in the average quality rating rises,firms are more likely to obtain higher profits by taking measures to increase the proportion of strong ties among consumers on their websites.

Are Socially Responsible Banks More Risk Averse and Dividends Providers?Empirical Evidence from a Developing Economy

Purpose:This study examines whether socially responsible firms are uninterested in risk-taking and whether socially responsible banks are more dividend providers than socially irresponsible ones.We conducted the analysis using the least-squares method for 290-panel data observations of 32 commercial banks operating in Bangladesh from 2008 to 2018.Methodology:We employed Ordinary Least Squares Regression for 290-panel data observations of 32 commercial banks operating in Bangladesh from 2008 to 2018 using EViews software version-8.Moreover,we conducted descriptive analysis and correlations using SPSS software.We considered CSRI and CSRPI as the indicators of corporate social responsibility,dividend per share and stock dividend as a proxy of dividend policy,LEV(leverage),and non-performing loan to total loan as the indicators of financial risk,and lastly,Z score as the indicator of financial stability.Findings:Studies have shown that banks prioritizing social responsibility tend to pay dividends to their shareholders more frequently and consistently than banks that do not.In particular,banks that invest heavily in corporate social responsibility(CSR)tend to maintain a stable dividend payout,which can help address agency problems that arise from overinvestment in the CSR sector.Additionally,we found that banks that make huge expenditures on CSR also seem to have a low eagerness for risk-taking.Again,we found that the financial stability of a socially responsible bank is high and stable enough,which will help efficiently handle the bank’s financial risks,reduce price fluctuations,and increase financial assets that generally influence a bank’s monetary stability.Implications:Banks implementing fruitful CSR strategies can produce substantial shareholder advantages through high dividend payout levels.An expansion in CSR-related expenditure does not prompt a cut-down or reduce the portion of income paid out as dividends to shareholders.Therefore,the Output of our study will help provide critical information and a thorough understanding of corporate social responsibility and its association with the dividend policy,risk,and financial stability in the banking sector.This will also be useful to the researcher,students,and corporate policymakers while making a critical decision about whether a firm should make expenditures on CSR purposes,how it impacts a firm’s dividend decision,and its connection with its overall risk and financial stability.According to the study,corporate social responsibility should be integrated into a firm’s mission and strategy rather than appearing to be a mere act of generosity.Originality/Value:This study uniquely considers CSR,dividend policy,risk,and financial stability simultaneously in a developing country.Besides,the three-dimensional measures of CSR used in the research focused on developing the economy are a precious contribution.

Venture Capital Syndication under Social Network Theory:Literature Review and Prospect

As an important channel for start-ups to obtain R&D funds and external knowledge and information resources,and as one of the key methods for investment institutions to leverage scale and synergy effects to enhance investment returns,venture capital syndication holds significant research value in the field of venture capital.This paper reviews the literature,summarizing the motivations behind the formation of joint investment networks,the conceptual characteristics of the three core theories of social network theory,and the empirical research on venture capital syndication within the framework of social network theory.It also highlights the existing research results,identifies gaps,and anticipates future research directions.

Social Media and the Public Policy Process in Egypt

For the past three years the political environment in Egypt, and the middle east in general, has undergone substantial change such as increase in public opinion and awareness, increase in political participation, increase in voting turnout franchise as well as introducing a new paradigm of communication which has great influence on the political and social landscape of the world ＂Social Media＂. The aim of this study is to explore the impact and effect of social media （Facebook） on the changing political environment of the public policy process in Egypt. This article analyzes the different stages of the Public Policy Process in Egypt, with application to the Minimum and Maximum Wage Policy, and examines how it was influenced by the Facebook, as a device of the social media, as a new channel of political mobilization.

Problems and Countermeasures of Social Responsibility Investment(SRI)in China in the New Era

Social responsibility investment(SRI)has gradually become a new investment concept in the world.In the context of the new era,SRI has such problems in China such as lack of sufficient policy guarantee,SRI awareness of investors and evaluation awareness of consumers on corporate social responsibility(CSR),and low degree of information disclosure of CSR.This paper puts forward some countermeasures to improve policies,laws and regulations on SRI in China,as well as the information disclosure system of social responsibility.This paper discusses enlightenment of the research progress of foreign SRI to China to promote the further development of SRI in China.

Uncoordination of China’s social assistance program resources and policy solutions

With the promulgation and implementation of Social Assistance Interim Measures, China hasbasically established the social assistance system framework with Dibao, Three-nos people support and disasterrelief as the basis, with housing aid, medical aid ,education aid and employment aid as the support and with temporaryassistance and charity help as the supplement. The establishment of various social assistance programsundoubtedly aims to fulfil different demands of urban and rural neddy people, however,the increase of socialassistance programs does not necessarily bring about an increase in the effectiveness of social assistance. Thispaper analyzes the uncoordination of Chinas social assistance program resources and put forward related policysolutions.

Analyst Investment Recommendations and Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure

With the emergence of corporate social responsibility report, more and more listed companies have disclosed social responsibility. Analysts as information intermediaries, how to interpret the corporate social responsibility information？ We analyze the relationship between corporate social responsibility disclosure and analysts investment recommendations.The study found： corporate social responsibility disclosure would affect analysts＇ investment recommendation, the higher the quality of corporate social responsibility disclosure, the higher the rating of analysts investment recommendations.

Policy Needs for Social Security in the Process of Citizenization of the Peri-urban Farmers:A Case Study of Hefei City

We conduct a survey of transformational towns and villages in High-tech Development District, Yaohai District and Shushan District, Hefei City. Using data, we analyze the "sideline effect" and inherent contradiction of transformational cities, research the policy needs for social security and its trend in the citizenization process of the peri-urban farmers. On this basis, we construct the social security policy system that can adapt to the accelerated process of urbanization. Finally, we put forth the following recommendations for the social security policy in the citizenization process of the peri-urban farmers: distinguishing different groups' policy needs for social security; attaching importance to people's dynamic policy needs for social security in urbanization; focusing on the adaptability of social security policy transformation in urbanization; attaching importance to the social psychosocial environment of social security policy transformation in urbanization; achieving the trinity of non-farm conversion, urbanization and citizenization in the process of urbanization; strengthening the government's dominant position in the building of social security policy system.

Higher Education Admission Policy and Social Class of Ethnic Minority:The Case of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,China

Gaokao has been considered as the gatekeeper of intergenerational class reproduction in today’s slowing social mobility in China.In order to bolster the fairness of Gaokao,the Policy of Bonus Scores for Ethnic Minority Candidates(PBSEMC)has been issued,whose,however,effectiveness in promoting upward social class has not been adequately empirically explored.The difference-in-differences(DID)analysis based on cross-sectional data,which is distinct from the traditional DID analysis paradigm,was implemented to assess the Reform of PBSEMC in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 1988.The results showed that PBSEMC had a significant and positive impact on the social classes of ethnic minorities,and gender,residence type and occupation type were also relevant to social class,aligning with the previous literature.The PBSEMC is effective in improving the social classes of ethnic minorities.However,the PBSEMC policy should be made more precise,in order to benefit the candidates who are in genuine need of assistance.

Comparative Analysis on Policy Realization of Old and New Rural Social Endowment Insurance System

Based on the perspective of"political potential"and"incentive mechanism",this paper compares the different effects of the old rural social endowment insurance system and the new rural social endowment insurance system,so as to explain the policy realization degree of the old and new rural social endowment insurance system.According to the analysis,the new rural social endowment insurance system has greatly improved the implementation of policies,the implementation of policies,the overall planning ability between departments,and the enthusiasm of individual farmers to participate in the insurance.Compared with the old rural social endowment insurance system,the policy realization ability of the new rural social endowment insurance system has been significantly enhanced,and the effect of the policy realization has been significantly improved.

For a Legal Guarantee to Improve People’s Livelihood and Protect Human Rights——Thoughts on policy concerning Social Insurance Law (draft)

The People＇s Republic of China Social Insurance Law （draft） has undergone three readings at the Standing Committee of the National People＇s Congress. The Law, once promulgated, will be of great significance to implementation of the constitutional principle of ＂respecting and protecting human rights.＂ It will help regulate the various social insurance relationships and the rights and obligations of the parties involved.

Analysis of the relationship between environmental policies and air quality during major social events

Based on an analysis of major recent social events in China,such as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,2010 Shanghai World Expo,2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games,and 2014 Beijing Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference,mandatory,temporary,and indemnificatory quantitative policies aimed at protecting air quality,which were carried out by both central and local governments,made substantial contributions to changes and improvements in air quality.To some extent,the findings show that command and control measures play a significant role in protecting air quality,while the law and economic and voluntary environmental safeguard measures do not during major social events.Therefore,it reminds us the air quality could and will improve not only during major social events but also in the regular days if we implement appropriate environmental policies and safeguard measures.

Social Security Funds Clamor for Reform

This paper analyzed the institutional deficiencies inherent in China's social security system based on a dissection of various social security fund violations. It holds that the unscientific design in social security system is the root cause for social security fund violations, which is reflected in low level of social security unification, irrational investment system and legislative loopholes etc. Currently, China's social security funds are facing risks in management and in system; The key of risk control lies in the reforming of the overall framework of social security system through the following aspects: 1) readjust the unified account system structure to raise the level of unification; 2) reform funds investment system to boost ROI; 3) speeding up legislative to regulate the administrative costs and the behaviors of its entities.

Personalized Privacy Protecting Model in Mobile Social Network

With the rapid development of the new generation of information technology,the analysis of mobile social network big data is getting deeper and deeper.At the same time,the risk of privacy disclosure in social network is also very obvious.In this paper,we summarize the main access control model in mobile social network,analyze their contribution and point out their disadvantages.On this basis,a practical privacy policy is defined through authorization model supporting personalized privacy preferences.Experiments have been conducted on synthetic data sets.The result shows that the proposed privacy protecting model could improve the security of the mobile social network while keeping high execution efficiency.

China's climate socialization and renewable energy coalition building

Against the backdrop of a heavy carbon lock-in energy structure,China has made considerable progress in renewable energy(RE)development and become a world leader in this area within a decade.Although existing research suggests that rapid RE growth is mainly due to the convergence of economic growth,green industry competition,and energy security concerns under a unique state-led model,they oversimplify the difficulty inherent in RE policy shifting supported by formerly weak pro-RE actors in China's historical trajectory of a low-carbon transition.By exploring the interaction between international and domestic actors by means of a socialization-based coalition-building framework,this paper aims at analyzing how the capacity building of the RE coalition gets enhanced via institutional anchoring and resource reallocation in the climate socialization process and how the strengthened RE coalition has spurred transformation in China's RE policy and the challenges they are confronted with.