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Design and validation of an index to measure development in rural areas through stakeholder participation

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Listed:
  • Abreu I.
  • Mesias F. J.
  • Ramajo
  • J

Abstract

This paper proposes the development of an index to assess rural development based on a set of 25 demographic, economic, environmental, and social welfare indicators previously selected through a Delphi approach. Three widely accepted aggregation methods were then tested: a mixed arithmetic/geometric mean without weightings for each indicator; a weighted arithmetic mean using the weights previously generated by the Delphi panel and an aggregation through Principal Component Analysis. These three methodologies were later applied to 9 Portuguese NUTS III regions, and the results were presented to a group of experts in rural development who indicated which of the three forms of aggregation best measured the levels of rural development of the different territories. Finally, it was concluded that the unweighted arithmetic/geometric mean was the most accurate methodology for aggregating indicators to create a Rural Development Index.

Suggested Citation

  • Abreu I. & Mesias F. J. & Ramajo & J, 2021. "Design and validation of an index to measure development in rural areas through stakeholder participation," Papers 2109.12568, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2109.12568
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jerzy Michalek & Nana Zarnekow, 2012. "Construction and application of the Rural Development Index to analysis of rural regions," JRC Research Reports JRC72059, Joint Research Centre.
    2. World Bank, 2003. "World Development Indicators 2003," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13920, April.
    3. World Bank, 2002. "World Development Indicators 2002," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13921, April.
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    5. World Bank, 2008. "World Development Indicators 2008," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 11855, April.
    6. World Bank, 2004. "World Development Indicators 2004," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13890, April.
    7. Davis, Gloria, 2004. "A history of the social development network in The World Bank, 1973 - 2003," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 31618, The World Bank.
    8. Jerzy Michalek & Nana Zarnekow, 2012. "Application of the Rural Development Index to Analysis of Rural Regions in Poland and Slovakia," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 105(1), pages 1-37, January.
    9. Horrillo, A. & Escribano, M. & Mesias, F.J. & Elghannam, A. & Gaspar, P., 2016. "Is there a future for organic production in high ecological value ecosystems?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 114-125.
    10. Salvatore Greco & Alessio Ishizaka & Menelaos Tasiou & Gianpiero Torrisi, 2019. "On the Methodological Framework of Composite Indices: A Review of the Issues of Weighting, Aggregation, and Robustness," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 141(1), pages 61-94, January.
    11. I. Abreu & J. M. Nunes & F. J. Mesias, 2019. "Can Rural Development Be Measured? Design and Application of a Synthetic Index to Portuguese Municipalities," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 145(3), pages 1107-1123, October.
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