Private–Public Partnership for Low-Volume Roads: Swedish Private Road Associations

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Ivarsson ◽  
Malmberg Christina Calvo
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Local Property ◽  
Public Expenditures ◽  
Private Ownership ◽  
Swedish Model ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
The Government

Unit costs for low-volume road construction and maintenance are low compared with those for higher-level roads. The problem is that in many countries this network is vast, and the total cost requirements to ensure minimum access are enormous. This problem is a particular challenge in developing countries where more than two-thirds of the poor reside in rural areas. The option of private ownership and financing of low-volume roads is proposed. It is argued that the Swedish model for low-volume road management and financing is simple and efficient and can easily be adapted to a variety of circumstances in both rich and poor countries. In Sweden, private road associations manage two-thirds of the road network at less than half the cost and with better results than do the government road agencies. This model is based on a well-structured institutional framework for private ownership of low-volume roads that includes a law on private roads and financial and technical incentives. The government provides legal and financial incentives for local property owners to associate and assume responsibility for their roads. The result is a private–public partnership in which government subsidizes road costs with grants from the budget. Increasing efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditures and working in partnership with the private sector are highly relevant goals in both developed and developing countries.

Scientific approach using AHP to prioritize low volume rural roads for pavement maintenance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akhilesh Nautiyal ◽  
Sunil Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Rural Roads ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pavement Maintenance ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
The Government

PurposeA large number of roads have been constructed in the rural areas of India to connect habitations with the nearest major roads. With time, the pavements of these roads have deteriorated and they need some kind of maintenance, although they all do not need maintenance at the same time, as they have all not deteriorated to the same level. Hence, they have to be prioritized for maintenance.Design/methodology/approachIn order to present a scientific methodology for prioritizing pavement maintenance, the factors affecting prioritization and the relative importance of each were identified through an expert survey. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to scientifically establish weight (importance) of each factor based on its relative importance over other factors. The proposed methodology was validated through a case study of 203 low volume rural roads in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. Ranking of these roads in order of their priority for maintenance was presented as the final result.FindingsThe results show that pavement distresses, traffic volume, type of connectivity and the socioeconomic facilities located along a road are the four major factors to be considered in determining the priority of a road for maintenance.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology provides a comprehensive, scientific and socially responsible pavement maintenance prioritization method which will automatically select roads for maintenance without any bias.Practical implicationsTimely maintenance of roads will also save budgetary expenditure of restoration/reconstruction, leading to enhancement of road service life. The government will not only save money but also provide timely benefit to the needy population.Social implicationsRoad transportation is the primary mode of inland transportation in rural areas. Timely maintenance of the pavements will be of great help to the socioeconomic development of rural areas.Originality/valueThe proposed methodology lays special emphasis on rural roads which are small in length, but large in number. Instead of random, a scientific method for selection of roads for maintenance will be of great help to the public works department for better management of rural road network.

Nature and Effects of Low-Volume Roads in Botswana

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bizzar B. Madzikigwa
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Road Network ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Rapid Improvement ◽  
The Road ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Sand And Gravel

The road sector in Botswana continues to develop its road network throughout the country at a tremendous rate. When Botswana gained independence in 1966, it had only 10 km (16 mi) of bitumen road. By 1992 the total length of bituminous surfaced road reached 3500 km (2,175 mi) out of a total road network of 18 000 km (11,285 mi). These statistics clearly show that the majority of roads are not yet surfaced; these are low-volume roads that provide access to the rural areas where most of the country’s population is found, though in low density. In spite of the rapid improvement in the quality of the national road network in recent years, much remains to be done. In the early 1970s and early 1980s the rural roads unit was introduced in the Ministry of Works Transport and Communications, which was charged with the responsibility of design and construction of low-volume roads around the country in a bid to integrate the country’s road network. This unit was later disbanded in the 1990s, and all roads are improved through the conventional procurement system using private contractors. For these roads the justification of a surfacing project based on conventional economic return methods does not apply, and worse still, the road improvements have to compete with other amenities for the same limited resources. Three ministries in Botswana are responsible for roads: Ministry of Works Transport and Communications, Ministry of Local Government, and Ministry of Trade, Industry, Wildlife and Tourism. These ministries have different responsibilities for different roads within the country, and earth, sand, and gravel roads are found under the jurisdiction of each of the ministries. The major drawbacks concerning low-volume roads in Botswana are inadequate maintenance, poor road construction materials, and the environmental impacts of the roads. Since the budget and resources are inadequate to keep these roads in good condition, it would be prudent to find technological means that would improve the locally available road construction materials so as to minimize their effects on the environment and vehicle operating costs.

Determinants of corruption in developing countries: case of Tunisia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Azzouz Zouaoui ◽  
Mounira Ben Arab ◽  
Ahmad Mohammed Alamri
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Unemployment Rate ◽  
Bayesian Model Averaging ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Model Averaging ◽  
Public Expenditures ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Determinants Of Corruption ◽  
The Government

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the economic, political or sociocultural determinants of corruption in Tunisia. Design/methodology/approach To better understand the main determinants of corruption in Tunisia. This study uses The Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) model, which allows us to include a large number of explanatory variables and for a shorter period. Findings The results show that economic freedom is the most important variable of corruption in Tunisia. In second place comes the subsidies granted by the government, which is one of the best shelters of corruption in Tunisia through their use for purposes different from those already allocated to them. Third, this paper finds the high unemployment rate, which, in turn, is getting worse even nowadays. The other three factors considered as causal but of lesser importance are public expenditures, the human development index (HDI) and education. Education, the HDI and the unemployment rate are all socio-economic factors that promote corruption. Originality/value The realization of this study will lead to triple net contributions. The first is to introduce explicitly and simultaneously political, social and economic determinants of corruption in developing countries. Second, unlike previous studies based on the simple and generalized regression model, the present research uses another novel and highly developed estimation method. More precisely, this study uses the BMA model, on the set of annual data for a period of 1998–2018. The third contribution of this research resides in the choice of the sample.

scholarly journals Opinions of South African optometry students about working in rural areas after graduation

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khathutshelo P. Mashige ◽  
Olalekan A. Oduntan ◽  
Rekha Hansraj
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Government ◽  
Optometry Students

Background: Eye and vision problems have been reported to be more prevalent in rural than urban areas; and a large proportion of South Africans live in the rural areas.Aim: To investigate the opinions of South African optometry students about working in rural areas after completion of their training and to identify factors that may influence theirdecisions.Method: This was a cross-sectional quantitative study using a survey instrument containing both closed and open-ended, semi-structured questions.Results: Four hundred and thirty-eight students responded to the questionnaire (85.4% response rate). Overall, many of the respondents did not want to open their first (66%) or second practices (64.6%) in the rural areas. However, most respondents from rural backgrounds reported that they would open their first (77.2%) or second (79.4%) practice in the rural areas. The main reasons cited by the respondents for their unwillingness to work in the rural areaswere financial concerns (81.2%), personal safety (80.1%) and poor living conditions (75.3%), with a significantly higher number (p < 0.05) being from urban respondents for the latter twoissues only.Conclusion: Many students were not in favour of opening practices in rural areas, but were willing to work for the government or a non-governmental organisation after graduation. Efforts should be made to address financial incentives, safety and living conditions in the rural areas. The results of this study have implications for the future of availability and accessibility of eye care services to those living in the rural and remoteareas of the country.

Factorial analysis of capacity-building needs of small- and medium-scale building contractors in developing countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 357-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Asante ◽  
Ernest Kissi ◽  
Edward Badu
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Medium Scale ◽  
The Government

Purpose The needs assessment is the heart of any capacity-building strategy since it determines the design of any intervention, and also helps to prioritise the allocation of resources. Whereas there is a considerable amount of literature on the challenges faced by small- and medium-scale building contractors (SMBCs), very little is known about the needs (support) required by SMBCs. But given the critical role played by SMBCs in the construction industry demands, an understanding of how this sector can be assisted is required. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature relative to capacity building of SMBCs by exploring and examining the needs with the objective to extend the understanding on how to promote and sustain SMBCs to continue their infrastructural delivery at the local and rural areas in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire with five-point Likert scale is administered to 416 respondents, including local government authorities, consultants, first-class contractors and SMBCs using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Data generated from the survey are analysed using mean score ranking and principal component analysis, thus enabling the findings of the study to be examined under six thematic areas. Findings The SMCs needs identified include anti-corruption measures, job accessibility, technical and technological assistance, favourable fiscal policy, business development support and financial assistance. The findings of the study bring to the attention of policy makers the critical areas that required support by the assistance of SMBCs. In the interim, the study recommends the extension of business advisory services to the SMBCs by National Board of Small-Scale Industries, whilst in the long term, the government must create the necessary business operating environment to promote SMBCs pertaining to the industrial sector of the economy. The SMBCs must also factor the needs into their business operations that can be addressed from within. Originality/value The study suggests the need of SMBCs in building a robust construction industry in developing countries.

Retention of medical doctors and nurses in rural areas of Odisha state, India – a policy analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 178-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manas Ranjan Behera ◽  
Chardsumon Prutipinyo ◽  
Nithat Sirichotiratana ◽  
Chukiat Viwatwongkasem
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
World Health ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Support ◽  
The Government ◽  
Doctors And Nurses

Purpose Retention of medical doctors and nurses in remote and rural areas is a key issue in India. The purpose of this paper is to assess the relevant policies and provisions with respect to health care professionals, aiming to develop feasible retention strategies in rural areas of Odisha state of India. Design/methodology/approach The study employed documentary review and key informant interviews with policy elites (health planners, policy maker, researchers, etc.). The document review included published and unpublished reports, policy notifications and articles on human resources for health (HRH) in Odisha and similar settings. Throughout the study, the authors adapted World Health Organization’s framework to study policies relevant to HRH retention in rural areas. The adapted framework comprised of the four policy domains, education, regulation, financial incentives, professional and personal support, and 16 recommendations. Findings In Odisha, the district quota system for admission is not practiced; however, students from special tribal and caste (Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste) communities, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes of citizens, and Persons with Disabilities have some allocated quota to study medicine and nursing. Medical education has a provision of community placement in rural hospitals. In government jobs, the newly recruited medical doctors serve a minimum of three years in rural areas. Doctors are given with location-based incentives to work in remote and difficult areas. The government has career development, deployment, and promotion avenues for doctors and nurses; however, these provisions are not implemented effectively. Originality/value The government could address the rural retention problems, as illustrated in the study and put in place the most effective policies and provisions toward recruitment, deployment and attraction of HRH in remote and rural areas. At the same time, implementation HRH strategies and activities must be rigorously monitored and evaluated effectively.

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