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Computational Social Science, the Evolution of Policy Design and Rule Making in Smart Societies

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  • Nicola Lettieri

    (ISFOL, Institute for the Development of Vocational Training, Corso d’Italia 33, 00198 Rome, Italy
    Department of Law, Economics, Management, Quantitative Methods, University of Sannio, Piazza Arechi III, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

Abstract

In the last 20 years, the convergence of different factors—the rise of the complexity of science, the “data deluge” and the advances in information technologies—triggered a paradigm shift in the way we understand complex social systems and their evolution. Beyond shedding new light onto social dynamics, the emerging research area of Computational Social Science (CSS) is providing a new rationale for a more scientifically-grounded and effective policy design. The paper discusses the opportunities potentially deriving from the intersection between policy design issues and CSS methods. After a general introduction to the limits of traditional policy-making and a brief review of the most promising CSS methodologies, the work deals with way in which the insights potentially offered by CSS can concretely flow in policy choices. The attention is focused, to this end, on the legal mechanisms regulating the formulation and the evaluation of public policies. Our goal is two-fold: sketch how the project of a “smart society” is connected to the evolution of social sciences and emphasize the need for change in the way in which public policies are conceived of, designed and implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicola Lettieri, 2016. "Computational Social Science, the Evolution of Policy Design and Rule Making in Smart Societies," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jftint:v:8:y:2016:i:2:p:19-:d:69912
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Margherita Vestoso, 2018. "The GDPR beyond Privacy: Data-Driven Challenges for Social Scientists, Legislators and Policy-Makers," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-11, July.
    2. Dino Giuli, 2018. "Ecosystemic Evolution Fed by Smart Systems," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-3, March.
    3. Paul J. Croft, 2019. "Environmental Hazards: A Coverage Response Approach," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, March.

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