Investigating ACF Policy Change Theory in a Unitary Policy Subsystem: The Case of Ghanaian Public Sector Information Policy

Purpose Since the start of seed and other market reforms in the 1990s, the annual number of improved varietal releases for maize in Kenya has increased substantially. Prior to the reforms, private firms were restricted in introducing new varieties, could not protect their intellectual property and farmers had to rely exclusively on improved seeds developed and marketed by the public sector. Reforms have resulted in not only private firms entering the market and releasing improved varieties, but also an increase in varietal releases by the public sector. The purpose of this paper is to review some of the key policy reforms related to maize in Kenya, and their impacts on varietal development and yields. Design/methodology/approach The authors estimate a yield model that relates national maize yields to a number of input policy variables. The authors employ a two-stage least square regression, as one of the explanatory variables – the number of varietal releases – is likely endogenous with yield. The authors use policy variables such as public R&D, the number of plant breeder’s rights issued, and the years since private varieties have been introduced as instrument variables to estimate their influence new varietal releases directly, and then new varieties, inputs and other policies to measure their impact on yields. Findings The results show that policy changes such as the introduction of intellectual property rights had an important impact on the number of improved maize varieties released. However, the outcomes of the policy change such as the number of varieties and the share of area under improved varieties has no impact on increasing maize yields. The authors argue that this is because farmers continue to use older improved varieties because of the dominance of a parastatal in the maize, seed market and that newer improved varieties may not have the assumed yield advantage. Future policy and programs should be directed toward increasing the adoption of improved varieties rather than simply releasing them. Originality/value This paper provides evidence that while policy change may lead to new varietal development and release, its aggregate productivity impacts may be limited without additional reforms and intervention.

Download Full-text

Quo Vadis Open data?

Masaryk University Journal of Law and Technology ◽

10.5817/mujlt2018-2-4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 179-220

Author(s):

Jozef Andraško ◽

Matúš Mesarčík

Keyword(s):

Public Sector ◽

Data Protection ◽

New Technologies ◽

Open Data ◽

Legal Order ◽

Free Access ◽

Access To Information ◽

European Union Law ◽

Public Sector Information ◽

Quo Vadis

New technologies have irreversibly changed the nature of the traditional way of exercising the right to free access to information. In the current information society, the information available to public authorities is not just a tool for controlling the public administration and increasing its transparency. Information has become an asset that individuals and legal entities also seek to use for business purposes. PSI particularly in form of open data create new opportunities for developing and improving the performance of public administration.In that regard, authors analyze the term open data and its legal framework from the perspective of European Union law, Slovak legal order and Czech legal order. Furthermore, authors focus is on the relation between open data regime, public sector information re-use regime and free access to information regime.New data protection regime represented by General Data Protection Regulation poses several challenges when it comes to processing of public sector information in form of open data. The article highlights the most important challenges of new regime being compliance with purpose specification, selection of legal ground and other important issues.

Download Full-text

Unlocking the Potential of Public Sector Information with Semantic Web Technology

The Semantic Web - Lecture Notes in Computer Science ◽

10.1007/978-3-540-76298-0_51 ◽

2007 ◽

pp. 708-721 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Harith Alani ◽

David Dupplaw ◽

John Sheridan ◽

Kieron O’Hara ◽

John Darlington ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Sector ◽

Semantic Web ◽

Web Technology ◽

Semantic Web Technology ◽

Public Sector Information

Download Full-text

Datos abiertos y reutilización en el contexto de la Estrategia europea de datos

Tábula ◽

10.51598/tab.880 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 201-213

Author(s):

Julián Valero Torrijos

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Public Sector ◽

Open Data ◽

Regulatory Framework ◽

Open Government ◽

The European Union ◽

Public Sector Information ◽

Significant Process ◽

Datos Abiertos

En los últimos años hemos asistido a un importante proceso de modernización tecnológica en España que ha afectado a las Administraciones Públicas. Más allá de las limitaciones en la regulación, en este proceso se percibe la importancia de los datos en general y de los datos abiertos en particular como uno de los ejes principales para reforzar las exigencias y principios del Gobierno Abierto. En esta ponencia se pretende analizar la evolución del marco normativo aplicable en España y ponerlo en relación con las recientes iniciativas que está impulsando la Unión Europea para promocionar la reutilización de la información del sector público y los datos abiertos. In the last few years we have witnessed a significant process of technological modernisation in Spain that has impacted on Public Administrations. Beyond the limitations in the regulation, in this process the importance of data and open data particularly is perceived as one of the main axes to strengthen the requirements and principles of Open Government. This lecture aims to analyse the evolution of the regulatory framework applicable in Spain and to connect it with the recent initiatives being promoted by the European Union to foster the reuse of public sector information and open data.

Download Full-text

Exploitation of Public Sector Information in Europe

Handbook of Research on Public Information Technology ◽

10.4018/978-1-59904-857-4.ch012 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 118-131

Author(s):

Ioannis P. Chochliouros ◽

Anastasia S. Spiliopoulou ◽

Stergios P. Chochliouros

Keyword(s):

Public Sector ◽

Legal Framework ◽

Electronic Communications ◽

Private Companies ◽

Public Sector Information ◽

European Regulatory ◽

Regulatory Measures ◽

Legal Security ◽

Effective Development ◽

Mutual Communication

The gradual “penetration” of an innovative, digitally-oriented information society, in the scope of the actual convergence among telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology, create primary opportunities for access and exploitation of Public Sector Information (PSI), in the context of a fully competitive and liberalised European electronic communications market. There are now significant challenges on the scene, for improving mutual communication between public sector and private companies, thus creating chances for exploiting new opportunities, to the benefit of the broader European market(s). However, the non-existence of an appropriate legal framework governing the conditions and/or terms for the commercial use of PSI constitutes a serious drawback for any serious attempt towards evolution, and for an effective development of a European e-Communications market. Recent European regulatory-oriented policies have established and supported suitable measures and provisions, to ensure access to PSI for all interested parties and for their “free” circulation among Member States. In the context of the suggested contribution we examine current European harmonization regulatory measures, towards creating transparency and legal security for all market players involved in the wider content market, thus contributing to growth.

Download Full-text