Ateneo Policy Center published 12 journal articles and 11 working papers for the year of 2022

The Ateneo School of Government’s public policy think tank and research unit, the Ateneo Policy Center, is pleased to announce the publication of twelve (12) peer-reviewed journal articles and eleven (11) working papers for the year 2022. These research papers contribute to the Ateneo Policy Center’s mission to advocate for policy reform through cutting-edge research, evidence-based discussions, and meaningful partnerships with the public and private sectors. 

The Ateneo Policy Center continues its efforts to address major barriers to institutional reform and inclusive governance. Journal articles on the poverty-inducing effect of political dynasties and the country’s culture of cronyism (drawing from a previous working paper) shed light on the pervasive problem of political inequality. Another journal article offers a critique of former President Duterte’s legislative performance. These studies show the effects of various forms of political inequality on national development and Philippine democracy. At the local level, the Ateneo Policy Center published research that digs deeper into the SK Reform Law and the Barangay Assembly. National security has also become a main concern. A working paper showcases a novel dataset that elaborates on the trends and perpetrators of election-related violence in the Philippines while a recent journal article details the link between political dynasties and terrorism in the Philippines through mixed methods. Policy recommendations were also provided through a journal article on the country’s AFP modernization program and a working paper analyzing Philippine defense spending. 

Moreover, the Ateneo Policy Center responds to the mission of amplifying the voice of the people through proactive and evidence-based research on the country’s most pressing issues and the very dynamics behind public opinion. As the country continues to grapple with the pandemic, several papers provided timely policy recommendations for the 2022 national elections, for participatory budgeting as a measure for social accountability in crises, and even for global cooperation amidst the anticipated transition of the virus to endemicity. With the spread of fake news across the globe, studies supported by the Pinoy Voters’ Vibe (PVV) initiative assess the relationship of misinformation susceptibility with political polarization and voting likelihood through surveys on the Filipino youth. The Ateneo Policy Center also contributes to emergent literature on online disinformation networks through a case study of the Tallano gold narrative on Facebook. Political support has been nuanced to illustrate the economic and cultural drivers of presidential satisfaction through empirical analysis of longitudinal survey data from 1998 to 2019, and survey data on overseas Filipino workers during COVID. 

The Ateneo School of Government contributes to policy discussions on the regulation and taxation of tobacco in the Philippines. To learn from other countries, two peer-reviewed journal articles used gap analysis to estimate the size of the tobacco industry in Malaysia, and traced the role of policy actors in the implementation of standardized tobacco packaging in Singapore. A working paper was also released to propose policy recommendations that combat illicit tobacco trade in the Philippines. Finally, the Ateneo Policy Center calls for informed and relevant communication strategies by examining the effectiveness of graphic health warnings in cigarette packaging and use  of local language in voter information campaigns to bridge political divides.

These would not have been possible without the support of our partners and stakeholders. We wish to extend our deepest gratitude and look forward to continuing our meaningful engagements in 2023!

For more information about the research materials by the Ateneo Policy Center, please visit this link.