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1 – 3 of 3David Feltenius and Jessika Wide
Since 2009 Swedish municipalities may apply the Act on System of Choice (LOV) in, among other things, eldercare. About half of the 290 Swedish municipalities have chosen this…
Abstract
Purpose
Since 2009 Swedish municipalities may apply the Act on System of Choice (LOV) in, among other things, eldercare. About half of the 290 Swedish municipalities have chosen this within home-care services for older citizens, thus creating conditions for a welfare mix where private and public providers compete. Some of these municipalities later made decisions to abolish LOV. This article aims to analyse the arguments put forward by municipal politicians to abolish LOV and discusses if the case of abandoning LOV represents a case of re-municipalization.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative method was used to analyse decision protocols and media materials from 20 Swedish municipalities that had abolished LOV in home-care services.
Findings
The article shows that politics and ideology seem to have only a limited significance in abolishing LOV. The most important arguments found in the empirical materials were instead pragmatic and related to the transaction costs: in smaller municipalities about the weak position of private providers and in larger municipalities about reported cases of welfare crime and extensive needs to control and review. In smaller municipalities, LOV was replaced by public monopoly and in larger municipalities by other types of procurements.
Originality/value
With its focus on eldercare in party-dominated municipalities, the article adds knowledge to the literature on drivers of re-municipalization but also discusses possible delimitations of the concept of re-municipalization.
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Jessika Eichler and Sumit Sonkar
The CoViD-19 pandemic has brought about a panoply of institutional challenges both domestically and in the international arena. Classical constitutional theory thereby underwent a…
Abstract
Purpose
The CoViD-19 pandemic has brought about a panoply of institutional challenges both domestically and in the international arena. Classical constitutional theory thereby underwent a reinvention by the executive for the sake of speedy policy action and to the detriment of institutional control while favouring authoritarian forms of governance. This paper concerns itself with institutional responses to such developments, placing emphasis on the role of the judiciary and people*s in contesting emergency decrees and other executive orders, especially where fundamental rights are infringed upon. The paper aims to explore the difficulties arising with exerting absolute executive powers during the health crisis, the respective role assumed by constitutional courts and the impact of the new governance paradigm on forms of public contestation, also as a means of quasi institutional control.
Design/methodology/approach
Indeed, the right to health may be translated into political discourse and become foundational to security and public interest paradigms. This may result in a shrinking public space given the constraints to the freedom of movement. In the name of public safety, the (collective) right to assembly, expression and protest have been submitted to major limitations in that regard.
Findings
Ultimately, this re-opens debates on the meaning of absolute rights and contextualities of derogations, as well as the reconcilability of civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights. It also exposes social inequalities, social justice dimensions and vulnerabilities, often exacerbated by the health crisis; migrant rights demonstrably face particularly severe and intersectional forms of violations.
Originality/value
Particular values lie with the interdisciplinary approach embraced in this paper; the authors draw on a variety of social sciences disciplines to shed light on this very current issue. Both theoretical and empirical methods are used and combined here, making sense of the underlying logic of virus governance and its impacts on fundamental rights.
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Jessika Milagros Vásquez Neyra, Mirza Marvel Cequea, Valentina Gomes Haensel Schmitt and Marcos Ferasso
This research aims to understand the behaviour of food consumption and waste in Peruvian households at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to understand the behaviour of food consumption and waste in Peruvian households at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
Exploratory research was carried out with Peruvian households, using a descriptive method design. Data were analysed using descriptive and multivariate statistics. A self-administered questionnaire of 60 questions was used, applied by social networks in May 2020, obtaining 418 valid questionnaires.
Findings
The main findings allow the identification of a behaviour aiming the avoidance of waste and purchasing with a cost–benefit orientation, which is followed by purchase planning, knowledge and use of information on labels, food storage and cooking skills.
Practical implications
For companies in the food sector, relevant information is provided on consumer behaviour. For policymakers, elements are provided for the promotion of responsible consumption and zero waste. For the academy, an explanation is provided of how and in what way crises influence the behaviour of food consumption and waste.
Social implications
Environmental-friendly and responsible consumption behaviour need to be supported, as well as to make consumers aware of the costs of food waste. These measures could be fostered by collective action that includes different actors – from civil society, the private and public sectors – and contribute to a sustainable solution, focused on improving consumption patterns and food waste.
Originality/value
The novelty of this research is based on exploring the understanding of the existing relation among food consumer behaviour, in a context of crisis, towards food waste prevention and avoidance, cost–benefit orientation and the knowledge about labelling, storage and handling.
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