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Scope of the Fund. It is as well to clarify at the beginning that contrary to what the name European Social Fund may imply to some readers, the Fund does not cover the whole range of expenditure facing the European Community in the field of social policy. Nor is it, to counter another widespread misconception, a Fund empowered to step in to meet every kind of social need in cases where other resources, public and private, may be inadequate.

In the first two decades of the twenty-first century, low-cost carriers grew rapidly in many low- and middle-income economies. In this chapter, we examine the geography and network structure of low-cost carriers in such economies across Asia in 2018. We use these analyses to explore the relationship between budget airlines and economic development. Levels of disposable income and infrastructure adequacy help to account for the significance of low-cost airlines in some middle-income economies. And in turn, these airlines by fostering higher levels of accessibility and personal mobility may help catalyze faster development. However, the environmental externalities associated with aviation, especially atmospheric emissions, raise concerns about the sustainability of this mode. We assess these concerns and focus in particular on the development of low-cost carriers fleets in Asia. We ask whether the acquisition of more fuel-efficient aircraft will ameliorate aviation's environmental impact.

As recently highlighted by Creaby-Attwood and Allely (2017), it is crucial that the possible innate vulnerabilities that contributed to sexual offending behaviour in an individual with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are taken into consideration for the application of a diversion programme to avoid the stigma of a criminal conviction or during sentencing for a non-custodial outcome. Specifically, in those defendants with a diagnosis of what used to be referred to as Asperger’s syndrome (AS) and now is recognised as an ASD and who are charged and convicted of a non-contact sexual offense, education and mental health intervention will best serve the interests of justice. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

This paper focusses on one particular type of sexual offending behaviour, namely, possession of child pornography. A systematic PRISMA review was conducted.

The authors linked examples of child pornography in the research literature to the ASD symptomology and describe how the symptomology explains such behaviour as not reflecting actual sexual deviance.

Downloading and viewing of child pornography by individuals with ASD has received relatively little research outside the mental health field. This review is of particular importance to those in the criminal justice system who may not have much knowledge and understanding of ASD. It is suggested that diversion programmes and mental health courts should be set up for this particular population charged with this particular crime in mind so that the necessary treatment/intervention/support and care can be given to this particular group.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) conservation loan program was introduced in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide additional credit to assist producers implementing approved Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation projects. This paper explores why this program has been widely underutilized despite an overall increase in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Program participation.

The FSA administrative loan data are merged with NRCS program participation and payments data for 2010–2021. The share of project costs paid by producers and resulting savings achieved by farmers participating in both programs if their cost-share portion was paid by FSA loans are estimated, as well as the impact on farmer conservation spending under different estimates of increased participation.

A significant share of FSA farmers are likely to take advantage of NRCS programs, with the majority of participants paying under $25,000 in cost-share portions. These loans are less suited to guaranteed conservation loans and more appropriate for the discontinued direct conservation loan program. Few FSA borrowers participating in NRCS cost-share programs pay more than $50,000 in cost-share portions. These loans would receive the majority of benefits from interest reduction schemes under the current guaranteed loan program.

Our results and suggestions provide valuable information when discussing the Guaranteed Conservation Loan Program in the 2023 Farm Bill legislation.

No prior research has attempted to merge FSA guaranteed or direct loan data with conservation program participation and payment data, focused on producer cost-share levels or the FSA Guaranteed Conservation Loan Program in the last decade, making this study a valuable contribution to the literature.

The purpose of this paper is to add to the relatively limited existing literature exploring the experience of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in the prison environment. Prisoners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) need to be identified in order that they are given the necessary and appropriate support and safeguards. It is increasingly recognised that, for individuals with ASD, prison can be more challenging. This can be due to ASD traits which can make problems occur in everyday life. Some of these ASD traits include: obsessions, compulsions and difficulties in communicating with others. There is increasing recognition that adults with ASD who are in prison are more vulnerable to bullying, social isolation, sexual victimisation and exploitation confrontations with other prisoners. Given this, more research is warranted in this area highlighting the specific needs and challenges of individuals with ASD in the prison.

This paper is a case study of Mr C.T., a British Citizen, who is currently serving a life sentence (discretionary). Mr C.T. has spent more than 10 years in prison. At the time of completing the questionnaire for the present study, Mr C.T. was 51 years of age. He pled guilty to charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour; making an indecent photograph contrary to s52(1)(a) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982; and possession of indecent photographs contrary to s52(A)(1) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. Mr C.T. was convicted of Lewd, Indecent and Libidinous Practices and Behaviour and 2 x Civic Government (Scotland) Act, Section 52 (1) (a) and was sentenced to Life Imprisonment with a punishment part of 6 years.

The case study discussed in this paper clearly raises a number of issues and concerns that urgently need attention in our criminal justice systems.

There is relatively little research exploring the experiences and challenges faced by individuals with ASD. This paper will add to the existing body of research in this limited field.

Allely and Dubin (2018) and Allely et al. (2019) have emphasised that there are a range of innate vulnerabilities in many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are charged with the viewing of indecent images of children (IIOC). Currently, the association between ASD and the viewing of IIOC is poorly recognised and understood both by the general public and clinical and legal professionals.

This is a detailed case study exploring the contributory role of ASD symptomology in the viewing of IIOC. In this case study, the experience of the criminal justice system is also explored.

It is hoped that this case study will provide insight into and understanding of how ASD can in some cases be the context for vulnerability to the viewing of IIOC and raise awareness of the need to consider this at all stages of the criminal justice system, including while making sentencing decisions. This case study paper will also more effectively inform the development of appropriate preventative strategies and timely interventions.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first detailed case study which explores the contributory role of ASD symptomology in the viewing of IIOC in the academic peer-reviewed literature.

In human resource development (HRD) doctoral programs, advanced statistics training (AST) is crucial for certain students, depending on their research interests and career goals. However, mandating AST for all students could be inimically consequential to some students’ academic and professional success. Such requirement risks misallocating valuable time and resources, potentially diverting students from the areas where their intellectual strengths and research ambitions could flourish most effectively. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to conceptually investigate AST requirement for HRD doctoral students and call for an empirical investigation to address the research gap. Indeed, aligning training with students’ diverse needs could enhance their preparedness for future academic and career challenges.

This is a conceptual study examining the necessity of mandating AST for all HRD doctoral students.

Many HRD doctoral programs design their curricula based on the caprices of academic leaders rather than empirical evidence, creating a disconnect between doctoral students’ academic strengths, career goals, and the training they receive. As a result, this misalignment may produce mediocre ambidextrous researchers ill-equipped to meet their future research needs and employer expectations. A rigid one-size-fits-all approach in doctoral education fails to leverage students’ intellectual strengths, potentially hindering their development as specialized experts capable of contributing meaningfully to the evolving demands of the HRD field and its practitioners. Therefore, the HRD doctoral curriculum should be informed by data-driven insights to ensure relevance and efficacy.

Despite its profound and far-reaching implications for students, educational institutions, and employers, no empirical study has examined this nuanced issue within the HRD discipline. In contrast, extensive research in cognate disciplines has explored the necessity of AST and its impact on diverse student outcomes. This study makes a unique contribution to the HRD field by addressing a critical gap in the literature and proposing a bifurcated approach specifically designed for HRD doctoral students. This proposed novel framework could inform curriculum design and better align training with the evolving needs of emerging scholars and the broader HRD community.

Area-based insurance plans trigger payments based on losses which may not match actual loss experience at the farm level, an issue often referred to as basis risk. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the basis risk associated with the Supplemental and Enhanced Coverage Option (SCO and ECO) crop insurance programs, and the risk reduction that can be achieved when these area-based plans are added to farmers’ risk management portfolios.

This study utilizes simulation techniques to build a stylized model for representative farms at the county-level for non-irrigated corn and soybean production. We model farms for each county in the 17 states included in USDA’s Crop Progress Reports for corn and soybeans, which comprise more than 90% of planted acreage for those crops. Yield and price data from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), futures price data and insurance premiums from the Risk Management Agency are used to calibrate the simulation model.

Area-based plans may provide (1) insufficient coverage for actual losses, which is a risk management concern or (2) payments exceeding actual losses, which is a program efficiency concern given federal support for the insurance program. The risk of insufficient coverage (under-compensation) can be reduced by increasing the coverage level of the area plans, but that also increases the likelihood of support exceeding actual loss experience (over-compensation). The scale of basis risk associated with the area plans differs by region and crop due to differences in yield risk. Area plans do have the potential to provide additional risk reduction; however, risk reduction is inversely related to the level of basis risk.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to focus on quantifying the basis risk associated with the relatively new supplemental area options (SCO, ECO) currently available in the US federal crop insurance program. It provides important insights which could inform current and future Farm Bill debates as policymakers consider modifications and enhancements to commodity and crop insurance programs. It also provides useful information to help educate farmers and other stakeholders about the use of SCO and ECO in their risk management plans.