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On de-bunking ‘fake news’ in a post truth era: Why does the Planning Fallacy explanation for cost overruns fall short?

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  • Love, Peter E.D.
  • Ika, Lavagnon A.
  • Ahiaga-Dagbui, Dominic D.

Abstract

The Planning Fallacy has been heralded as the best theoretical perspective to explain ‘how projects work’, particularly within the transportation area. However, we contend that the data and the resulting conclusions relied upon to support the Planning Fallacy have been based on methodological artifacts that do not stand up to close scrutiny. We suggest these flaws stem from ‘the compulsion to theorize', which predisposes to explain almost project behavior by the Planning Fallacy. We then unpack the method and data used to support the ‘Planning Fallacy’. Therefore, we ‘open a new door’ for the development of a more robust theoretical explanation for ‘how projects work’.

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  • Love, Peter E.D. & Ika, Lavagnon A. & Ahiaga-Dagbui, Dominic D., 2019. "On de-bunking ‘fake news’ in a post truth era: Why does the Planning Fallacy explanation for cost overruns fall short?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 397-408.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:126:y:2019:i:c:p:397-408
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2019.06.013
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    1. Flyvbjerg, Bent & Ansar, Atif & Budzier, Alexander & Buhl, Søren & Cantarelli, Chantal & Garbuio, Massimo & Glenting, Carsten & Holm, Mette Skamris & Lovallo, Dan & Molin, Eric & Rønnest, Arne & Stewa, 2019. "On de-bunking “Fake News” in the post-truth era: How to reduce statistical error in research," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 409-411.

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