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Methodology of the Indices of Social Development

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  • Foa, R.
  • Tanner, J.C.

Abstract

In recent years, international organizations, think-tanks, and the social sciences have contributed to a dramatic expansion in the range of composite indices measuring concepts such as human development, governance, or social capital. This paper discusses challenges faced in the design of composite indices, and suggests the method known as matching percentiles as a solution to the problem of how to aggregate social institutional data. We produce a set of indices measuring the health of five dimensions of social development: civic activism, clubs and associations, inter-group cohesion, interpersonal safety and trust, and gender equity. We then conduct a series of diagnostic tests which demonstrate the robustness of the new measures, and assess their degree of construct validity.

Suggested Citation

  • Foa, R. & Tanner, J.C., 2012. "Methodology of the Indices of Social Development," ISD Working Paper Series 2012-04, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    • Handle: RePEc:ems:eurisd:50510
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    2. Nawaz Ahmad & Saqib Amin, 2020. "Does ethnic polarization stimulate or relegate trade and environmental performance? A global perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 6513-6536, October.
    3. Irene van Staveren & Ellen Webbink & Arjan de Haan & Roberto Foa, 2014. "The Last Mile in Analyzing Wellbeing and Poverty: Indices of Social Development," Forum for Social Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 8-26, April.
    4. Zoe Dettrick & Hebe N Gouda & Andrew Hodge & Eliana Jimenez-Soto, 2016. "Measuring Quality of Maternal and Newborn Care in Developing Countries Using Demographic and Health Surveys," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(6), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Byomkesh Talukder & Keith W. Hipel & Gary W. vanLoon, 2017. "Developing Composite Indicators for Agricultural Sustainability Assessment: Effect of Normalization and Aggregation Techniques," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-27, November.
    6. Walle, Yabibal Mulualem, 2022. "Determinants of social cohesion: Cross-country evidence," IDOS Discussion Papers 18/2022, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    7. David Urbano & Sebastian Aparicio & Victor Querol, 2016. "Social progress orientation and innovative entrepreneurship: an international analysis," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 1033-1066, December.
    8. Sebastian Madalin Munteanu & Irina-Eugenia Iamandi & Eugeniu Tudor, 2015. "Evaluation Model of the Entrepreneurial Character in EU Countries," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 17(38), pages 1-76, February.
    9. Mateusz Piwowarski & Mariusz Borawski & Kesra Nermend, 2021. "The Problem of Non-Typical Objects in the Multidimensional Comparative Analysis of the Level of Renewable Energy Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.
    10. Andreea Cirstea, 2019. "Country Performance In Achieving Sustainable Development Goals," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 4, pages 83-90, August.
    11. Umar, Maida & Asghar, Zahid, 2018. "SDG Index for Pakistan at Provincial Level," MPRA Paper 83997, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Fethi Mansouri & Amanuel Elias, 2021. "The Intercultural Dialogue Index (ICDI): An Index for Assessing Intercultural Relations," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 411-453, June.
    13. Ms. Janet Gale Stotsky & Sakina Shibuya & Ms. Lisa L Kolovich & Suhaib Kebhaj, 2016. "Trends in Gender Equality and Women’s Advancement," IMF Working Papers 2016/021, International Monetary Fund.

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