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Designing urban water systems to respond to the accelerating and unpredictable changes of the Anthropocene will require changes not only to built infrastructure and operating rules, but also to the governance arrangements responsible for investing in them. Yet, inclusion of this political‐economic feedback in dynamic models of infrastructure systems and socio‐hydrology has lagged behind operational feedback concerns. We address this gap through a dynamical systems application of the Coupled Infrastructure Systems (CIS) Framework, which provides the conceptual building blocks for analyzing social‐ecological systems through various classes of infrastructure and the flows of material and information among them. In the model, political‐economic feedback involves three decisions—infrastructure investment, rate‐setting, and short‐term demand curtailment—and each decision is constrained by institutional friction, the aggregation of decision and transaction costs associated with taking action. We apply the model to three cities in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area to compare how institutional friction interacts with a city's water resource portfolio and financial position to determine its sensitivity, or the degree to which its performance (e.g., providing sufficient supply to meet demand) changes given reductions in Colorado River water availability. We find that the slowing effect of institutional friction on investment and rate‐setting decisions can increase the sensitivity of a city's supply, but it can also promote objectives that compete with over‐response (e.g., rate burden). The effect is dependent on the initial operating capacity of the CIS and flexibility within the institutions, highlighting the need to consider political‐economic and operational feedback together when evaluating infrastructure systems. Plain Language Summary Urban water systems must grapple with accelerating social and environmental change that requires them to not only consider future infrastructure needs, but also, the configuration of decisions responsible for infrastructure investment. Unfortunately, inclusion of political‐economic feedback has lagged behind operational feedback in models that examine water systems response to changing environments. We present a modeling approach to trace the flow of water, information, and investment in a general urban water system that must make three annual decisions: infrastructure investment, rate‐setting, and short‐term demand curtailment. Each decision is influenced by costs to taking action and the flexibility involved in setting action magnitudes. We apply the model to three cities in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area to compare how these institutional constraints interact with existing infrastructure and finances to affect their sensitivity, or the degree to which their performance (e.g., providing sufficient supply to meet demand) changes given reductions in Colorado River water. We find that when institutional barriers to action increase, cities are more sensitive to supply shocks, but such barriers can benefit other objectives like rate burden. The effect is dependent on the presence of redundant supplies, demand growth, and decision‐making flexibility, highlighting the need to consider both political‐economic and operational concerns when evaluating water systems. Key Points Having sufficient supply redundancy can outweigh the negative effect of slow institutions on a city's ability to address supply shocks The supplies of cities with institutions that require more stress to act are more sensitive to shocks, but their rates are less sensitive Adding flexibility to institutions can ease the burden of large investments on ratepayers and improve the reliability of slow institutions

PurposeThis study aims to explore how operational resilience can be achieved within supply ecosystems in the delicate yet harsh natural environments of the Arctic.Design/methodology/approachAn in-depth, multiple qualitative case study of offshore supply operations in Arctic oil and gas field projects is conducted. Data from semi-structured interviews, personal observations and archival materials are analysed through institutional work and logics approaches.FindingsThe findings suggest that achieving social-ecological resilience depends on the interaction between social and natural (irreversible) systems, which are shaped and influenced by various institutional dynamics. Different resilience solutions were detected.Research limitations/implicationsThis study develops a comprehensive understanding of how social-ecological resilience emerges in supply ecosystems through institutional dynamics. The study’s empirical basis is limited to offshore oil and gas projects in the Arctic. However, due to anticipated future growth of Arctic economic activities, other types of supply ecosystems may benefit from the study’s results.Originality/valueThis research contributes with empirical knowledge about how social-ecological resilience is created through institutional interaction within supply ecosystems to prevent disruptions of both social and ecological ecosystems under the harsh natural conditions of the Arctic.

University teaching settings can offer unique opportunities for envisioning alternative futures. Questions have been raised, however, about whether higher education institutions are doing enough to grasp the full potential of these affordances, or whether, instead, their structural dynamics are perpetuating unsustainable societal regimes. This study explored how systemic conditions in UK universities may hinder possibilities for 'transformative learning' in the context of Sustainable Development. Thematic analyses of interviews with 21 academics and 12 students revealed structures characterised by corporatisation, bureaucratisation, insularity, and time scarcity. To investigate possibilities for transgressing these constraints, a novel component of the analyses uncovered narratives of struggle and resistance tied to physical objects chosen by participants. The symbolic meanings embedded in these examples offer experiential insight into how educational provision could better harness radical collaboration, institutional critique, responsive teaching, and embodied learning. At this pivotal juncture, where universities can choose to either reinforce or resist dominant norms of unsustainability, this study's materially-oriented narratives provide fresh impetus for mapping alternative paths forward.

Significance:This Commentary highlights the transformative potential of place-based research in rural development, demonstrating how a focused approach can yield deeper insights into the complex interplay between local institutions and sustainable livelihoods, ultimately leading to more effective and context-specific solutions.

This paper examines the institutional dynamics of policymaking in Nigeria and South Africa over the last two decades, focusing on how political, economic, and social institutions shape public policies in critical sectors such as education, health, and economic development. The study employs a comparative approach, utilising both historical and rational choice institutionalism as theoretical frameworks to interrogate the evolution and current functioning of these nations’ political and bureaucratic systems. The research employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on secondary data, case studies, and relevant literature, supplemented by interviews with key informants, including policy experts and political analysts. Findings reveal that both Nigeria and South Africa suffer from path-dependent institutional structures that perpetuate inefficiency and inequality, compounded by weak accountability mechanisms and the pervasive influence of informal institutions. While South Africa has achieved comparatively greater progress in reforming its political institutions, Nigeria continues to contend with entrenched corruption and systemic bureaucratic dysfunction. The paper concludes that, despite shared challenges such as inequality, corruption, and governance crises, the institutional contexts in these two developing nations remain pivotal in determining the effectiveness of policy outcomes. Based on these findings, it proposes strengthening accountability mechanisms, integrating informal institutions into reform efforts, enhancing local-level governance, and improving the institutional capacity of political structures to drive systemic change.

Abstract This article aims to advance the discussion about the influence of knowledge and policy learning on policy change, taking the Advocacy Coalition Framework as reference. We propose unlinking the comprehension of learning through change in two perspectives. First, we suggest apprehending the relation between knowledge and policy learning, through the use of knowledge, assuming that different forms of learning are possible, depending on the context of decision-making. Then, relying on the contributions of the theory of gradual institutional change, we suggest using the notion of institutional dynamics, in order to capture the explanatory power of knowledge and policy learning both in stasis and change situations. We aim to contribute to diminish the skepticism presented in the literature about the influence of knowledge and policy learning in the policy process. Resumo Este artigo tem como objetivo avançar a discussão sobre a influência do conhecimento e do aprendizado na mudança das políticas públicas, tomando como referência o Modelo de Coalizões de Defesa. Para isso, propomos desvincular a compreensão do aprendizado por meio da mudança em duas perspectivas. Primeiro, propomos apreender a relação entre conhecimento e aprendizagem em políticas públicas, por meio do uso do conhecimento, assumindo que diferentes formas de aprendizagem são possíveis, dependendo do contexto de tomada de decisão. Em seguida, a partir das contribuições da teoria da mudança gradual, propomos usar a noção de dinâmica institucional, a fim de captar o poder explicativo do conhecimento e da aprendizagem tanto em situações de estase quanto de mudança. Esperamos contribuir para diminuir o ceticismo presente na literatura sobre a influência do conhecimento e da aprendizagem no processo de políticas públicas. Resumen Este artículo tiene como objetivo avanzar en la discusión sobre la influencia del conocimiento y del aprendizaje en el tema de los cambios en políticas públicas, tomando como referencia el Marco de las Coaliciones Promotoras. Para ello, proponemos desvincular la comprensión del aprendizaje a través del cambio en políticas públicas en dos perspectivas. En primer lugar, nos proponemos aprehender la relación entre conocimiento y aprendizaje en las políticas públicas, a través del uso del conocimiento, asumiendo que son posibles distintas formas de aprendizaje, dependiendo del contexto de toma de decisiones. Luego, con base en los aportes de la teoría del cambio gradual, proponemos utilizar la noción de dinámica institucional, con el fin de captar el poder explicativo del conocimiento y el aprendizaje en situaciones tanto de estasis como de cambio. Esperamos contribuir a reducir el escepticismo presente en la literatura sobre la influencia del conocimiento y el aprendizaje en el proceso de políticas públicas.

Abstract Seminal studies about institutional theory highlighted the focus on cognitive issues in research on institutions. However, during the last few years, a growing body of literature has also been devoted to understanding the role of emotions in institutional dynamics. In one of the classic texts on institutional theory, Scott emphasizes three institutional pillars, the regulatory, the normative, and the cognitive. Researchers point out that there is now a fourth pillar: the role of emotions in institutional theory. This article explores the emotions’ role in institutional dynamics, especially related to women’s political participation in the 2018 Brazilian elections. Three cases of female candidates who showed high performance in pre-election polls, were discussed. The research analyzed the candidates’ interviews and social media, observing their emotions in publications and expressions. Also, emotional expressions of society toward the studied candidates, as well as expressions potentially reflecting the institutional dynamic present in the Brazilian political arrangement, were analyzed. The main results show that during the 2018 Brazilian electoral campaign, in the face of the institutionalization of a masculine environment on the political scenario, the society expressed emotions of hatred and aggression against the three candidates since they violated institutional arrangements about behaviors considered acceptable in the dominant institutional logic. Despite this, two of the three female candidates were elected with the highest number of votes in their states, surpassing their male competitors. The candidate who was not elected obtained a significant number of votes. Resumo Estudos seminais sobre a teoria institucional destacaram que pesquisas sobre instituições têm se concentrado em questões cognitivas, entretanto, durante os últimos anos um corpo crescente de literatura também tem se dedicado a entender o papel das emoções na dinâmica institucional. Em um dos textos clássicos sobre a Teoria Institucional, Scott enfatiza três pilares institucionais, o regulatório, o normativo e o cognitivo. Pesquisadores apontam que agora ter-se-ia uma quarta ênfase: o papel das emoções na Teoria Institucional. Considerando o exposto, o presente artigo explora o papel das emoções nas dinâmicas institucionais, especialmente quanto à participação política das mulheres nas eleições brasileiras de 2018. Discute-se três casos específicos de mulheres candidatas com as maiores intenções de voto nas referidas eleições, levando em conta entrevistas, mídias sociais informações divulgadas publicamente buscando publicações e expressões de emoções não só delas, mas também da sociedade que poderiam refletir a dinâmica institucional presente no arranjo político brasileiro. Os principais resultados demonstraram que durante a campanha eleitoral brasileira de 2018, diante da institucionalização de um ambiente masculino no cenário político, a sociedade expressou emoções de ódio e agressão contra as candidatas analisadas neste estudo, uma vez que elas violaram arranjos institucionais de comportamentos considerados aceitáveis na lógica institucional dominante. Apesar disso, duas das três candidatas a cargos políticos foram eleitas como as candidatas mais votadas em seus estados, alcançando mais votos do que concorrentes masculinos, porém a última não foi eleita apesar de ter obtido expressivo número de votos. Resumen ELos artículos seminales sobre la teoría institucional resaltaron que los estudios sobre instituciones se han centrado en cuestiones cognitivas. Sin embargo, durante los últimos años también se ha dedicado una creciente cantidad de investigación y comprensión del papel de las emociones en la dinámica institucional. En uno de los textos clásicos sobre teoría institucional, Scott enfatiza tres pilares institucionales: el regulador, el normativo y el cognitivo. Los investigadores señalan que ahora habría un cuarto énfasis: el papel de las emociones en la teoría institucional. El presente trabajo explora el papel de las emociones en las dinámicas institucionales, especialmente la participación política de mujeres en las elecciones brasileñas de 2018. Para ello, se discuten tres casos específicos de candidatas con las intenciones de voto más altas en las citadas elecciones, teniendo en cuenta sus entrevistas y redes sociales, buscando publicaciones y expresiones de emociones no solo de ellas, sino también de la sociedad que podrían reflejar la dinámica institucional presente en el arreglo político brasileño. Los principales resultados han demostrado que durante la campaña electoral brasileña de 2018, ante la institucionalización de un ambiente masculino en el escenario político, la sociedad expresó emociones de odio y agresión contra las candidatas analizadas en este estudio, ya que violaron los arreglos institucionales de comportamientos considerados aceptables en la lógica institucional dominante. A pesar de esto, dos de las tres candidatas a cargos políticos fueron elegidas como las candidatas más votadas en sus estados, alcanzando más votos que los competidores masculinos; la última no fue elegida, a pesar, de haber obtenido una cantidad significativa de votos.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of institutional dynamics on road accidents and whether this relationship is moderated by information and communication technology (ICT).Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a quantitative approach with 133 respondents. Research hypotheses were tested in AMOS version 21. In addition, moderated regression analysis was used to test the moderating role of ICT on the relationship between institutional dynamics and road accidents.FindingsThe results show that vehicle maintenance, policy enforcement, safety culture, driver training and driver management positively influence road accidents. Moreover, the study established that ICT moderates the relationship between institutional dynamics and road accidents.Practical implicationsThe results of this study serve as a practical guideline for policymakers in the road haulage sector. Managers may gain insights on how to design effective interventions to reduce road accidents.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by exploring previously unexplored moderating paths in the relationship between institutional dynamics and road accidents. By highlighting the moderating role of ICT, the study sheds new light on the institutional dynamics that influence road accidents in the context of road haulage companies.

The literature on collective action has poorly addressed processes of incremental institutional changes within organizations. This paper helps fill this gap by shedding light on how the community-based management of an organic label has changed following its formal recognition as a ‘participatory guarantee system’ (PGS). Ostrom and Basurto's (2011) analytical tool is useful to describe the changes in collective rules to address collective action problems that take place in standard-setting and labeling activities. Using original data collected from the Ecovida Agroecology Network – the oldest and largest PGS in Brazil –, we study the multi-scale changes in governance rules from the 1970s until today. We pay particular attention to the links between the institutional consolidation of PGS, its recognition by public authorities, and its adaptation to legal rules. We detail analytical operators indicating whether the introduction of the PGS rules at the national level was bottom-up or top-down. Our findings emphasize how local communities have been able to both adapt their governance system in response to the official arrangements concerning organic regulations, and influence national public arenas where these arrangements are defined. This form of co-management has been accompanied by a significant increase in the number of PGS-certified farmers.

This paper examines how institutional dynamics among regulatory institutions affect the governance of the recruitment of Indonesian low-skilled migrant workers. Two institutional reforms have been made to create better governance for Indonesian migrant workers in the post-authoritarian era. One was the establishment of the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) while the other was the granting of greater responsibility to sub-national governments to supervise migrant worker recruitment. In spite of these institutional reforms, little progress has been made in the protection of Indonesian migrant workers. The paper reveals that the restrictive regulatory framework for the recruitment of migrant workers, which curbs private recruitment agencies, does not create better migrant worker governance. This regulatory framework does not take into consideration the horizontal relationship between the old and new institutions, and the vertical relationship between the central and sub-national governments. Horizontally, the institutional design of the proposed new regulatory framework has created institutional rivalry between the newly established regulatory actor and the old one. Vertically, the reluctance of central government to decentralise authority to sub-national governments has curtailed the ability of sub-national governments to perform a supervisory role in the recruitment process. These two inter-related factors have hindered the efforts to create a better recruitment process for Indonesian migrant workers.