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Valuation for Sustainable Development: The Role of Multicriteria Evaluation

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  • Sigrid Stagl

Abstract

Multicriteria methods were found to be useful tools to support decision-making about complex situations - such as those concerned with sustainable development issues - and to deal with conflicts in a structured and transparent way. Increasingly multicriteria evaluation (MCE) is also seen as a constructive response to the critique of cost-benefit analysis. MCE enables decision-makers to take multiple dimensions of impacts of the considered projects into account without the need for full monetarisation. A great number of multicriteria algorithms are now available. The algorithms differ in fundamental ways. Besides the algorithms also the implementation of the valuation technique is important for the outcome. In order to address issues like uncertainty, multiple legitimate perspectives and the need for learning during the decision process, ecological economists apply MCE mostly by combining the analytical tool with participatory techniques. Multikriterienmethoden erweisen sich als nützlich, um die Entscheidungsfindung in komplexen Situationen - wie solche eine nachhaltige Entwicklung betreffend - zu unterstützen und um mit Konflikten in einer strukturierten und transparenten Art umzugehen. Zunehmend wird multikriterielle Bewertung auch als konstruktive Antwort aufdie Kritik der Kosten-Nutzen-Analyse gesehen. Die multikriterielle Bewertung ermöglicht es EntscheidungsträgerInnen, die verschiedenen Dimensionen der Auswirkungen der zur Auswahl stehenden Projekte zu berücksichtigen, ohne diese gänzlich monetarisieren zu müssen. Eine Vielzahl von grundlegend verschiedenen mathematischen Algorithmen für die multikriterielle Bewertung steht zur Verfügung. Außer dem Algorithmus beeinflusst auch die Implementierung der Bewertungsmethode das Ergebnis. Um Probleme wie Unsicherheit, unterschiedliche legitime Problemsichtweisen und die Notwendigkeit von Lernen während des Entscheidungsprozesses zu adressieren, setzen ökologische ÖkonomInnen multikriterielle Bewertung vor allem in Kombination mit partizipativen Methoden ein.

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  • Sigrid Stagl, 2004. "Valuation for Sustainable Development: The Role of Multicriteria Evaluation," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 73(1), pages 53-62.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwvjh:73-10-4
    DOI: 10.3790/vjh.73.1.53
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    2. Strantzali, Eleni & Aravossis, Konstantinos, 2016. "Decision making in renewable energy investments: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 885-898.
    3. Randhir, Timothy & Shriver, Deborah M., 2009. "Deliberative valuation without prices: A multiattribute prioritization for watershed ecosystem management," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(12), pages 3042-3051, October.
    4. Ranger, S. & Kenter, J.O. & Bryce, R. & Cumming, G. & Dapling, T. & Lawes, E. & Richardson, P.B., 2016. "Forming shared values in conservation management: An interpretive-deliberative-democratic approach to including community voices," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 21(PB), pages 344-357.
    5. Autran Monteiro Gomes, Luiz Flávio & Duncan Rangel, LuI´s Alberto, 2009. "An application of the TODIM method to the multicriteria rental evaluation of residential properties," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 193(1), pages 204-211, February.
    6. Hattam, Caroline & Böhnke-Henrichs, Anne & Börger, Tobias & Burdon, Daryl & Hadjimichael, Maria & Delaney, Alyne & Atkins, Jonathan P. & Garrard, Samantha & Austen, Melanie C., 2015. "Integrating methods for ecosystem service assessment and valuation: Mixed methods or mixed messages?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 126-138.
    7. Kenter, Jasper O. & O'Brien, Liz & Hockley, Neal & Ravenscroft, Neil & Fazey, Ioan & Irvine, Katherine N. & Reed, Mark S. & Christie, Michael & Brady, Emily & Bryce, Rosalind & Church, Andrew & Cooper, 2015. "What are shared and social values of ecosystems?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 86-99.

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