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Dual weak–strong sustainability synthetic indicators using a double reference point scheme: the case of Andalucía, Spain

Author

Listed:
  • José M. Cabello

    (Universidad de Málaga)

  • Enrique Navarro-Jurado

    (Universidad de Málaga)

  • Beatriz Rodríguez

    (Universidad de Málaga)

  • Daniela Thiel-Ellul

    (Universidad de Málaga
    Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM))

  • Francisco Ruiz

    (Universidad de Málaga)

Abstract

Assessing sustainability has become a major issue among the researchers in the last decades, and many different methodologies have been proposed for this purpose. Sustainability is, by nature, multidimensional and thus, it pursues a balance between its multiple dimensions (economical, social, environmental, etc.). Being a multicriteria concept, it seems reasonable to use multicriteria tools to measure sustainability. In this paper, a double reference point scheme is proposed for the construction of synthetic sustainability indicators. With this scheme, it is possible to build a weak synthetic indicator, which allows full compensation among the individual indicators, and a strong synthetic indicator, which does not allow any compensation. The joint visualization of these indicators lets us identify in an easy and intuitive way the strengths and weaknesses of each territory. Besides, full rankings can be obtained using mixed synthetic indicators, which allow for different partial compensation degrees, and provide the user with a global overview of the sustainability of the region. This scheme has been applied to the 770 municipalities of Andalusia (South of Spain). 52 individual indicators have been used, classified in 4 dimensions: environmental, social, economic and financial.

Suggested Citation

  • José M. Cabello & Enrique Navarro-Jurado & Beatriz Rodríguez & Daniela Thiel-Ellul & Francisco Ruiz, 2019. "Dual weak–strong sustainability synthetic indicators using a double reference point scheme: the case of Andalucía, Spain," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 757-782, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:operea:v:19:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s12351-018-0390-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s12351-018-0390-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Matheus B. Frare & Ana P. C. Clauberg & Simone Sehnem & Lucila M. S. Campos & Juliano Spuldaro, 2020. "Toward a sustainable development indicators system for small municipalities," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1148-1167, September.
    2. de Castro-Pardo, Mónica & Cabello, José Manuel & Martín, José María & Ruiz, Francisco, 2023. "A multi reference point based index to assess and monitor European water policies from a sustainability approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    3. E. Ricciolini & L. Rocchi & M. Cardinali & L. Paolotti & F. Ruiz & J. M. Cabello & A. Boggia, 2022. "Assessing Progress Towards SDGs Implementation Using Multiple Reference Point Based Multicriteria Methods: The Case Study of the European Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1233-1260, August.
    4. José Manuel Cabello & Francisco Ruiz & Blanca Pérez-Gladish, 2021. "An Alternative Aggregation Process for Composite Indexes: An Application to the Heritage Foundation Economic Freedom Index," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 443-467, January.
    5. Francisco Ruiz & José Manuel Cabello, 2021. "MRP-PCI: A Multiple Reference Point Based Partially Compensatory Composite Indicator for Sustainability Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, January.
    6. Cinelli, Marco & Kadziński, Miłosz & Miebs, Grzegorz & Gonzalez, Michael & Słowiński, Roman, 2022. "Recommending multiple criteria decision analysis methods with a new taxonomy-based decision support system," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 302(2), pages 633-651.

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