the reduction of complexity by means of indicators – case studies in the environmental domain

OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004Walter Radermacher: The reduction of complexity by means of indicators

1

OECD World Forum on Key Indicators

Statistics, Knowledge and Policy

Palermo, 10-13 November 2004

OECD World Forum on Key Indicators

Statistics, Knowledge and Policy

Palermo, 10-13 November 2004


2

The reduction of complexity by means of indicators –

Case studies in the environmental domain

by Walter RadermacherFederal Statistical Office of Germany


3

Involved actors:

1.1 Construction of Indicators

ScienceStatistics Users(e.g. Politics)


4

Indicators are in trade-off between …

Statisticalmeasurability

Scientific consistency

Political relevance

1.2 Construction of Indicators


5

2.1 From a detailed picture of reality…

Teatro Massimo

in Palermo


6

2.2 … you can zoom out…

Teatro Massimo


7

2.3 … to get a very general view.

Teatro Massimo


8

3.1 Work system of the actor “statistics”

macro indicatorsaccounts, detailed indicators

basic data

Statistics


9

Statistics Science Politics

macroindicators

accounts,detailed indicators

basic data

theoreticalconcept

basic research

model

politicalprogramme

politicaltopic

individualactions

3.2 Work systems of Statistics, Science and Politics


10

Example: green GDP

→ process of indicator-building runs once:concept defines basic research, statistics collect

the data, basic data are “summed up” to form the green GDP

→ middle level is irrelevant→ no valuation or assessments by politics

4.1 Dominance of Science

Risk: theoretically developed model solution, not suitable for practice

→ foundation: neo-classical concept (as theoretical concept),

world can be explained by economic theory→ indicators as a substitute of evaluation


11


macroindicator

basic data

theoreticalconcept

basic research

4.2 Dominance of Science


12

Example: topic-specific indicators (“pollutant of the day”)

→ process of indicator-building runs once:departing from political goal, individual actions and regulatory steps are initiated, the effects have to be

covered by basic data and represented by a topic indicator

→ top level is irrelevant→ no assessment by science

4.3 Dominance of Politics

Risk: change of political goals, short-lived indicators, inconsistency


13


accounts,detailed indicators

basic data

political topic

individual actions

4.4 Dominance of Politics


14

4.5 Dominance of Statistics

Statistics cone as shown on slide 8Risk: ignores relevance

Memo:

→ different users need different informationStatistics should always take visualisation into account


15

5. Conclusion

→ involvement of all three actors→ involvement of all three pyramid levels

→ discussion between the same pyramid levels (special role of science)

→ discussion within the work system

→ iterative decision-making process …

The ideal-type construction process:


16


6.1 Iterative decision-making process…

“laboratory” (theory)

A: Development of basic data (after consulting users)


17


6.2 …iterative decision-making process…

“laboratory”

B: Aggregation with scientific methods


18

6.3 …iterative decision-making process.

“laboratory”

“bazaar”(negotiations)

C: Selection of indicators



19

7. Implementation

• The presented model has been successfully applied to theconstruction of macro indicators for the state of the environment(project was carried out 1998-2000).

• The German sustainability strategy:→ 21 indicators for the 21st century were defined in 2002

(by politics)→ incl. quantitative targets for most of them.Aim: Developing an indicator approach for sustainability that is embedded in accounts and data basis. Result: Integrated sustainability policy.


20

For questions please feel free to contact:

Walter RADERMACHER tel: +49-611 75 22 00e-mail: [email protected]

(Source: http://www.llda.gov.ph,Laguna Lake Development Authority)

http://www.llda.gov.ph/


21

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION!


22

Back up!


23

Visualisation

Example: Water-Mondriaan

→ pioneered by The Netherlands (CES/1995/R.3) → graphical presentation of

water systems and water types, the colour of each box represents

the state of the water→ provides a quick picture of the

overall status of water→ the original data behind the

aggregated map can be viewed

the reduction of complexity by means of indicators – case studies in the environmental domain

Documents