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  <title>EconStor Community: Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences</title>
  <link rel="alternate" href="https://hdl.handle.net/10419/233360" />
  <subtitle>Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences</subtitle>
  <id>https://hdl.handle.net/10419/233360</id>
  <updated>2026-04-29T09:24:09Z</updated>
  <dc:date>2026-04-29T09:24:09Z</dc:date>
  <entry>
    <title>A critical analysis of Russia's Maternity Capital program: Demographic intentions vs. socioeconomic realities</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://hdl.handle.net/10419/318523" />
    <author>
      <name>Samodova, Anna</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://hdl.handle.net/10419/318523</id>
    <updated>2025-06-03T02:07:44Z</updated>
    <published>2025-01-01T00:00:00Z</published>
    <summary type="text">Title: A critical analysis of Russia's Maternity Capital program: Demographic intentions vs. socioeconomic realities
Authors: Samodova, Anna
Abstract: Russia's Maternity Capital program, launched in 2007, is a key policy with an obvious pronatalist focus aimed at countering the country's long-term depopulation trend by encouraging families to have more children. Initially, providing financial incentives for second and subsequent births. The program was moderately effective in influencing reproductive decisions within this target group. In 2020, the government revised the Maternity Capital program to include first-born children. This redesign shifted the program's emphasis from promoting higher-order births, which are more likely to raise fertility, to broader poverty reduction among families with children, weakening its demographic effectiveness. This study provides a literature review and demographic analysis to evaluate the program's effectiveness in achieving its stated goals. The data sources include state legislation, strategic demographic and family policy documents, official government reports, peer-reviewed research, and expert opinions. The findings show that while Maternity Capital investments have supported families in improving housing and educational access, the program's limited flexibility, due to its paternalistic design restricting fund usage, may constrain its ability to meet diverse family needs. The study observed short-term increases in fertility. Still, the program alone has proven insufficient to reverse longterm demographic decline. This paper identifies gaps between the policy's intentions and the socioeconomic realities faced by families, offering recommendations to improve the Maternity Capital program to achieve more favourable demographic outcomes and address social protection needs and providing insights for policymakers and researchers from the standpoint of its impacts on family social protection and child well-being. It argues that financial support must be substantial, well-targeted, particularly toward families considering a second or subsequent child, and paired with complementary pro-natalist measures rather than replaced by them.</summary>
    <dc:date>2025-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration in an international research project: The case of the German-Ghanaian project EnerSHelF (Energy-Self-Sufficiency for Health Facilities in Ghana)</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://hdl.handle.net/10419/299365" />
    <author>
      <name>Bauhof, Jonas</name>
    </author>
    <author>
      <name>Bender, Katja</name>
    </author>
    <author>
      <name>Meilinger, Stefanie</name>
    </author>
    <author>
      <name>Rabe, Sarah</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://hdl.handle.net/10419/299365</id>
    <updated>2024-07-03T01:08:30Z</updated>
    <published>2024-01-01T00:00:00Z</published>
    <summary type="text">Title: Inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration in an international research project: The case of the German-Ghanaian project EnerSHelF (Energy-Self-Sufficiency for Health Facilities in Ghana)
Authors: Bauhof, Jonas; Bender, Katja; Meilinger, Stefanie; Rabe, Sarah
Abstract: Interdisciplinary research (IDR) is a widely applied research approach, combing the efforts of multiple academic disciplines to work on complex problems. Within transdisciplinary research (TDR), non-academic stakeholders participate in the project and offer hands-on experience to the research. These integrative approaches are praised for the ability for addressing 'wicked problems' and can lead to new perspectives on relevant contemporary challenges. This working paper is analysing the cooperation and exchange of involved disciplines in the German-Ghanaian interdisciplinary research project Energy-Self-Sufficiency for Health Facilities in Ghana (EnerSHelF). The results are presented in a Collaboration Frequency Network (CFN) as well as qualitatively examined to unravel the level of interaction and perspectives on chances and challenges of IDR and TDR. The analysis shows that disciplinary closeness, data collection and exchange, and individual effort are affecting the level of collaboration among other reasons. Concluding the authors develop recommendations for future IDR and TDR projects.</summary>
    <dc:date>2024-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Social protection policies and fertility: How can social protection measures address the low fertility rate in Germany?</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://hdl.handle.net/10419/301206" />
    <author>
      <name>Musim, Nana Germanie</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://hdl.handle.net/10419/301206</id>
    <updated>2024-08-20T01:18:45Z</updated>
    <published>2024-01-01T00:00:00Z</published>
    <summary type="text">Title: Social protection policies and fertility: How can social protection measures address the low fertility rate in Germany?
Authors: Musim, Nana Germanie
Abstract: There are about 30 low-fertility countries globally. Germany has been a low-fertility country for more than 50 years which is longer than any other country since the lowfertility trend in other countries only began ten or twenty years ago. Low-fertility rates have mainly negative consequences for various policy areas such as pension, health care, economy, labour market, culture, elections, and international relations (Bujard, 2015a, pp. 53f.). Understanding the potential impact of social protection policies on fertility rates is crucial for policymakers who seek to address declining fertility rates by applying evidence-based strategies. By investigating the relationship between these two variables, valuable insights can be gained, informing the design and implementation of effective policies aimed at promoting higher fertility rates and ensuring sustainable demographic outcomes. This research's objective is to identify how social protection measures address the low fertility rates in Germany. To do that, the outcomes of recent social protection measures in Germany related to the fertility rate will be assessed by generating empirical evidence. Consequently, conclusions will be drawn, and suggestions will be offered on how to improve fertility rates.</summary>
    <dc:date>2024-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Management of climate-related hazards in Germany through adaptive social protection: The case of the Ahr Valley Flooding in 2021</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://hdl.handle.net/10419/301205" />
    <author>
      <name>Martens, Jana</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://hdl.handle.net/10419/301205</id>
    <updated>2024-08-20T01:20:04Z</updated>
    <published>2024-01-01T00:00:00Z</published>
    <summary type="text">Title: Management of climate-related hazards in Germany through adaptive social protection: The case of the Ahr Valley Flooding in 2021
Authors: Martens, Jana
Abstract: In July 2021, unprecedented water levels affected Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. From July 12 to 15, 2021, a storm complex stalled over the European region, leading to heavy rain and flooding. In Germany, a month's rainfall fell within 48 hours. Soils were heavily saturated after a wet spring, leading to extraordinary water levels. Due to its surrounding landscape, the Ahr river meanders through the steep rocky vineyards. People settled and built in the areas close to the river, which overflowed its banks. More than 130 died. The floodwaters destroyed critical public infrastructure. Buildings collapsed, roads and railways were destroyed, and thousands lost their homes, causing billions of euros in economic loss. The recovery efforts in Germany continue three years after the disastrous event, despite well-developed response procedures and highly established social protection systems. Through the literature review using a qualitative case study approach, the article assesses the floods' impact on the Ahr valley and analyzes climate-related flood hazard management processes in Germany. The theoretical framework focuses on policies and programs reducing communities' vulnerability to climate-related hazards while promoting long-term resilience and sustainable development. Transformative change is possible along four building blocks, namely data and information systems, programs, institutional arrangements, and partnerships, as well as finance. Germany can reduce the disaster risk of climate-related flood hazards by strengthening its control and management capacities as well as enhancing readiness and resilience against future climate-related threats.</summary>
    <dc:date>2024-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
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