Subjective Value Judgments Research Articles

Cost-benefit analysis: just a step in the HIA process

Abstract The economic analysis within Health Impact Assessments (HIA) is a critical component in informing public policy decisions by assessing the financial implications of health outcomes associated with the different intervention options. Health metrics play a role defining the cost-effectiveness and societal value associated with the interventions. These metrics, quantifying the health impacts, include quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), years of life lost (YLLs) or disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). On another level, such metrics need to be translated into cost-effectiveness and societal value in which other methods play a role, such as the value of statistical life (VSL) or the value of a life year (VOLY). While VSL quantifies the value individuals place on reducing mortality risk, VOLY evaluates the value attributed to extending life expectancy. On another hand, uncertainties related to economic valuation pose challenges to the accuracy and reliability of cost estimates within HIA. These come from several factors, including data quality, methodological differences across studies, and subjective judgments involved in valuing health states. In fact, estimating the economic value of a prevented death involves multifaceted considerations and important assumptions. Additionally, assigning monetary values to non-fatal health outcomes, such as disability or reduced quality of life, involves subjective assessments and value judgments. By selecting appropriate metrics, considering diverse data sources, and addressing methodological steps and uncertainties, HIA practitioners can improve the utility of economic assessments, facilitating evidence-based decision-making in public health policy and resource allocation. This work was supported by National Funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,I.P., within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UIDP/4255/2020).

Úvahy o pokroku

Using the form of an essay, the author gives an account of historical-philosophical thought on the idea of progress in the 20th century with the emphasis on its methodological grounding. He takes as his starting point John B. Bury´s theory, which defined the idea of progress in terms of secular intellectual climate. In opposition to this approach, he then looks with a critical overview at the contrary or polemic concepts put forward by Robert Nisbet, Karl Acham, Heinz-Dieter Kittsteiner or Johannes Rohbeck, which rehabilitate the history of philosophy and seek to identify the evaluative criteria of progress, one of the basic obstacles in thinking about the reality of progress. The author also devotes great attention to attempts to disconnect progress from subjective or culturally-based value judgements by using terms like "development" or "modernisation", while also considering critiques of these attempts at detail.

Can we have a second helping? A preregistered direct replication study on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying self-control.

Self‐control is of vital importance for human wellbeing. Hare et al. (2009) were among the first to provide empirical evidence on the neural correlates of self‐control. This seminal study profoundly impacted theory and empirical work across multiple fields. To solidify the empirical evidence supporting self‐control theory, we conducted a preregistered replication of this work. Further, we tested the robustness of the findings across analytic strategies. Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while rating 50 food items on healthiness and tastiness and making choices about food consumption. We closely replicated the original analysis pipeline and supplemented it with additional exploratory analyses to follow‐up on unexpected findings and to test the sensitivity of results to key analytical choices. Our replication data provide support for the notion that decisions are associated with a value signal in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), which integrates relevant choice attributes to inform a final decision. We found that vmPFC activity was correlated with goal values regardless of the amount of self‐control and it correlated with both taste and health in self‐controllers but only taste in non‐self‐controllers. We did not find strong support for the hypothesized role of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) in self‐control. The absence of statistically significant group differences in dlPFC activity during successful self‐control in our sample contrasts with the notion that dlPFC involvement is required in order to effectively integrate longer‐term goals into subjective value judgments. Exploratory analyses highlight the sensitivity of results (in terms of effect size) to the analytical strategy, for instance, concerning the approach to region‐of‐interest analysis.

Интегрально-критический подход как направление социологического анализа политической элиты

The article discusses the features and possibilities of applying an integral-critical approach to the study of elite groups in general and the political elite in particular. The characteristic of reputational and decision-making (decision) methods, positional (institutional, formal) and value-based (meritocratic) methodological approaches often used in the past is given. It is noted that today, both positional and value (meritocratic) approaches are not quite suitable in their ideal version for the analysis of the elite, primarily due to their extreme one-sidedness of assessments. The thesis about the need for a special integral-critical approach, free from subjective value judgments, political-ideological and normative interpretations, is substantiated om the basis of the applied methods.

The Institute of Release from Punishment in the Aspect of Forecasting and Risk Management

Criminal law, which regulates the legal-factual basis of the institute of release from punishment, links some types of release solely with formally determined facts that cannot be subjectively assessed (Art. 83 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), and others - with subjective value judgements and predictions (Art. 73, 79, 80, 82 of the CC of the RF). Thus, for example, a suspended sentence can be used if the court comes to the conclusion that the convict can be corrected without serving the sentence (Art. 73 of the CC of the RF); conditional release - if the court decides that the convict does not need to serve the full sentence for his correction (Art. 79 of the CC of the RF); commutation - if the court recognizes that the goals of punishment can be achieved through the substitution of the remaining part of the sentence by a more lenient punishment (Art. 80 of the CC of the RF). Nevertheless, the analysis of court practice shows that the court often avoids the use of predictive assessments in the explanatory part of the resolution. Taking into account the abovementioned specifics of the legal-factual basis of different types of release from punishment, it is possible to claim that in some cases this approach is justified, while in others it reduces the effectiveness of court decisions on release from punishment. The methodological basis of the research is formed by the principles of the dialectical method of cognition (objectivity and comprehensive analysis of the object, unity of the world, systematicity), as well as the general scientific (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, description, classification) and special scientific (sociological, systemic-structural, formal-logical, comparative-legal) methods. The authors proposed and described two possible approaches to solving the problem of the necessity of using release from criminal punishment and showed the conceptual differences between the «retrospective» and the «predictive» models. It was proven that the effective process of de-penalization presupposes the use of one of the models depending of the type of release from punishment. The authors also outlined a number of patterns of the practical application of the «predictive» model and described its enforcement and prospects in the modern court practice of release from punishment. They analyzed the methods of assessing the risk of repeat offences developed by Russian and foreign specialists to address the issue of release from punishment.

First Do No Harm: Suggestions Regarding Respectful Autism Language.

Nationally and internationally, efforts are ongoing to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare and other fields. These efforts require consideration of ways in which language and assumptions impact individuals and communities. The autism and disability spheres are no exception. Indeed, the mental health of autistic people is predicted by the degree to which they feel society accepts them as autistic.1 Thus, we believe discourse that disparages autism could be harmful to autistic people’s well-being. Autistic individuals who face further stigma and discrimination due to other intersectional identities might be particularly vulnerable. Unfortunately, autism research and practice have traditionally used disparaging language grounded in the medical model.Some might object that alternatives to traditional medical model terms are subjective or unscientific. However, we believe traditional terminology is heavily laden with subjective value judgements. For example, the traditional term “disorder” has a decidedly negative connotation. It also implies that individuals’ own characteristics are responsible for their challenges, and it suggests a need to eliminate this disorder. In contrast, the more nuanced word “disability” allows both individual characteristics and societal or contextual barriers to contribute to challenges. The term disability thus appears to be both more scientifically appropriate and less stigmatizing toward a vulnerable population than disorder.In Table 1, we list various traditional terms and concepts that we believe are problematic, along with suggested replacements. We also suggest that practitioners and researchers balance a focus on autistic individuals' challenges with discussion of their strengths and potential. This balanced approach may be especially important for families of young children whose futures may be unclear and a source of considerable anxiety to caregivers.Furthermore, researchers and practitioners should be aware of an ongoing debate between supporters of identity-first (“autistic person”) and person-first (“person with autism”) language. Many autistic individuals support identity-first language2,3 and some fear that person-first language reflects negative attitudes toward autism.4 However, others endorse person-first language.2,3 The term “person on the autism spectrum” is often the most preferred term among autistic individuals and other stakeholder groups,2,3 and this verbiage is typically found to be acceptable by proponents of both person-first and identity-first language. Practitioners should ask about and respect the language preferences of individuals “on the spectrum” who can articulate their views.Overall, in light of concerns that typically-developing people struggle to understand autistic perspectives,5 we urge practitioners and researchers to strive to have empathy for how their language sounds to autistic people. We also suggest it can often be helpful to ask oneself if one would use similar phrasing with other marginalized communities. We feel that there needs to be a shift toward “cultural humility” and willingness to learn from autistic people about autistic identities and how to promote autistic well-being.Practitioners and researchers interested in a more detailed discussion of appropriate autism terminology should refer to Bottema-Beutel and colleagues.6 We provide definitions of neurodiversity terminology (eg, neurodiverse, neurodivergent) in Supplemental Table 2.

Analysis of Russian Foreign Action Decision-Making under Prospect Theory

Prospect theory, as a meso-theory of foreign policy-making, has shown unique advantages in analyzing foreign policy-making problems. The Russian-specific complex frame of reference plays an important role in decision-making on high-political issues, framing itself in a constant-loss framework through complex reference dependence, and thus exhibiting dynamic loss characteristics. The Russian complex frame of reference is a three-dimensional dynamic framework consisting of four main reference spheres: the Slavic ethnic sphere, the Orthodox cultural belt, the collection of Russian-speaking communities, and the focus of geopolitical interests, and thus exhibits different subjective value judgments, i.e., psychological reactions. The compounding of the different spheres leads to a superimposed effect in framing Russia's situation and to a strong representation of its behavioral responses.

Mit der Peitsche in den dreckigen Orient: Die Darstellung des Orients in Oskar Manns Reisebriefen

The present article deals with the travel letters of the German orientalist Oskar Mann (1867-1917). With financial support from the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, Mann made two expeditions to the Ottoman Empire and Iran between 1901 and 1906 to research the Iranian languages and dialects. Travel letters and travel diaries are texts with relatively subjective value judgments, in which people and cultures are often described using ethnocentric stereotypes, because a real journey represents a cultural encounter and confrontation with the other that offers unique and invaluable information about the new world. The description of a foreign culture cannot be separated from the subjective value judgments of a traveller. This means the foreign world in which the traveller moves is represented by the subject who experiences it. According to Mann, the Orientals are people from a place that has surrendered to the West. He separates the Orient from the Occident with precise and sharp lines and divides them Eurocentrically into two separate categories. During his travels, Mann produced and imparted knowledge about the foreign cultures on the one hand, and on the other hand he spread and reinforced images and prejudices as well as stereotypes that led to the ontological differentiation between Orient and Occident. This essay tries to show that he perceived the Orient with hegemonic thought patterns and that his foreign imagination remained deeply rooted in the classic European orientalist discourse of the 19th century, and as a consequence the Orient was devalued. This study discusses the stereotypes, images and pattern of ideas that he used to represent the population of the foreign country where he travelled. 

The Social Experiences and Uses of Post-War Modernist Urban Heritage Conservation and Regeneration: London’s Southbank Centre

Since the 1960s, post-war modernist heritage has been largely criticised and victimised by the public opinion because of its material failures and elitist social projects. Despite these critiques, post-war modernist heritage is being reassessed, revalued and in some places successfully rehabilitated. There is a growing recognition that most of the critiques have often been the result of subjective and biased value and taste judgments or incomplete assessments that neither considered the urban design nor the users’ experiences. This paper aims to contribute to these reassessments of post-war modernist urban heritage legacies. To do so, it places the user’s social experiences and uses, and the urban design at the centre of the analysis, by using a combination of ethnographic methods and urban design analysis and focusing on the public spaces of Southbank Centre in London, the UK’s largest and most iconic and contested post-war modernist ensemble with a long history of conservation and regeneration projects. Taken together, the findings demonstrate the importance of including the users’ social experiences and uses in the conservation and regeneration agendas if we want to achieve more objective and inclusive assessments.

Unpacking the experienced utility of sustainable lifestyle guiding policies: A new structure and model

Policy experienced utility is the subjective feeling and value judgment of a target group to a specific policy. It influences the implementation effect of the policy and can even determine the success or failure of the policy. Based on this observation, a five-dimensional structure was proposed and a model was built to measure experienced utility of sustainable lifestyle guiding policies. A numerical simulation was conducted to visually analyze the impact of different parameters on the experienced utility of sustainable lifestyle guiding policies. Results indicated that increasing the subsidy coefficient, emotional saturation factor, social recognition, policy efficacy, and policy sustainability, and reducing the implementation cost, could significantly improve the experienced utility of sustainable lifestyle guiding policies. In particular, the experienced utility of sustainable lifestyle guiding policies became zero when the subsidy coefficient was 1, the emotional saturation factor was 8, the social recognition factor was 4, the policy efficacy was 16, and the policy sustainability was 0.7. Once the cost was greater than 16, the experienced utility of the sustainable lifestyle guiding policy was less than zero. Consequently, recommendations, covering economic means, policy attributes, emotional experience and social recognition, are given to improve the experienced utility of sustainable lifestyle guiding policies.

Mamdani-Fuzzy Framework for Academic Staff Selection and Placement in Nigerian Universities

Selection and placement of appropriate personnel for the right job leads to great success in any organization. However, this is one of the most important activities carried out by Human Resource (HR). Minimizing imprecision and subjective value judgment in personnel selection processes were taken into consideration in this research by developing personnel selection and placement framework using the Mamdani- fuzzy model. This research work is aimed at developing Mamdani- fuzzy framework for academic staff selection and placement. A model with three levels has been developed to manage the database, and the necessary conditions required from applicants for selection and placement, and the consideration of individual temperament was paramount. Tools: Java script and HTML (for the front end) PHP and MySQL (for the database storage as back end). Experimental results using fuzzy classification membership function defined by the truth value of a fuzzy propositional function would also be used as part of the analysis and design. When the need arise, MathLab would be employed for some analysis and simulations. A graphical user interface (GUI) would be developed for all the relevant forms in order to effectively interact with the users of the system

The Third Place as an Evolving Concept for Hospitality Researchers and Managers

This article revisits the concept of the third place, critically evaluating its theoretical foundations and continued relevance to social analysis and hospitality, arguing that it can contribute to scholarly understanding of human sociability and community, as well as inspiring service providers. The article explores actual and potential hospitality applications from researcher and practitioner perspectives, also considering a possible hospitable symbiosis from a third place perspective. Its original definition, though providing an important foundation, is driven, in part, by subjective value judgments. The article concludes that the conceptualization of third place requires broadening to include more places where people can socialize, away from first (home) and second (work) places, without delimiting this definition ideologically. This reconceptualization implies, rather than prescribes, informality, neutrality, and inclusiveness within this convivial environment with community maintenance as a primary outcome.

Academic Disagreement in Australian Urban Research: An Introspective Analysis

ABSTRACTThis commentary aims at a better understanding of academic disagreement through an introspective analysis of its nature within the Australian urban research community. The academic debate on urban consolidation was used as a case study. The analysis shows that the force with which urban scholars promulgate their opposing standpoints is strengthened by a broad set of subjective value judgements. Academic disagreements are further enhanced by the social interactions of researchers and the heterogeneous social processes and circuits of scientific activity. The commentary concludes by discussing how a reflexive embrace of academic disagreement by urban scholars could give rise to more constructive and impactful debate and policy application.

Subjective value judgments of distributive justice and legal decision-making

Distributive justice is a fundamental issue in the legal decision-making. We use Savage’s framework to derive a representation of subjective value judgments of distributive justice from the coherence of the decision-maker’s preferences over income distributions. The representation function can incorporate, in a unified way, the widely held beliefs such as inequality aversion, desert, and egalitarianism. We illustrate the application of the justice representation functions in law and economics by studying the distribution rules for different beliefs of distributive justice.

A multi-objective approach to design strategic supply chains and develop responsiveness- efficiency frontiers

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold. Initially, a multi-objective binary integer programming model is proposed for designing an appropriate supply chain that takes into consideration both responsiveness and efficiency. Then, a responsiveness-cost efficient frontier is generated for the supply chain design that can help organizations find the right balance between responsiveness and efficiency, and hence achieve a strategic fit between organizational strategy and supply chain capabilities.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed SC design model used both cross-functional and logistical SC drivers to build a binary integer programming model. To this end, various alternative solutions that correspond to different SC design portfolios were generated and a responsiveness-cost efficient frontier was constructed.FindingsVarious alternative solutions that correspond to different SC designs were generated and a responsiveness-cost efficient frontier was constructed to help the decision makers to design SC portfolios to achieve a strategic fit between organizational strategy and SC capabilities.Practical implicationsThe proposed methodology enables the decision makers to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative judgements in SC design. The methodology is easy to use and it can be readily implemented by a software.Originality/valueThe proposed methodology allows for subjective value judgements of the decision makers to be considered in SC design and the efficiency-responsiveness frontier generated by the methodology provides a trade-off to be used when choosing between speed and cost efficiency in SC design.

Globalization and the Politics of Institutional Reform in Japan by Motoshi Suzuki

Reviewed by: Globalization and the Politics of Institutional Reform in Japan by Motoshi Suzuki Eiji Kawabata (bio) Globalization and the Politics of Institutional Reform in Japan. By Motoshi Suzuki. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, 2016. xii, 252 pages. $125.00. Motoshi Suzuki's book provides an analysis of government reform in Japan, in connection with changes in the international environment, especially globalization; the analysis consists of three components. The first is a theoretical discussion. In chapter 1 the author offers an overview of approaches to institutional change, particularly those based on rational choice, and presents the main framework that is used to examine Japanese government leaders' role in adjusting Japan's economic system to changes in the international environment in order to pursue economic development. The author also incorporates theoretical discussions in other chapters, in particular developing his analysis in conjunction with various discussions of Japanese politics and policymaking. The second component is historical studies. Suzuki uses the framework he has outlined to analyze government reform in Japan in case studies of reforms stimulated by changes in international relations before World War II. The third and final component is the application of his framework to case studies of contemporary government reforms under the influence of globalization in Japan. Each of these cases is very important, but they have rarely been examined by scholars outside Japan and the book's concise overview provides a basic understanding of each. The book thus covers a wide variety of relevant aspects of the issue, including theoretical approaches, historical overview, and case studies on recent government reform. This breadth of coverage is the book's strongest point. Nonetheless, the analysis includes some significant problems, among which I would include the following. First, the model the author sets up is in need of clarification. Suzuki's model is straightforward, if not simple. He posits "the extent and process of policy change" as dependent variables [End Page 485] and "change in the international order" as the independent variable, adding "policy authority allocation and related political strategies" as intervening variables (p. 8). However, methodologically, the last two variables are not intervening variables. An intervening variable is caused by an independent variable(s), but in this case neither of these two variables is caused by the independent variable. I would instead suggest that they are independent variables; it is plausible to argue that either policy authority allocation or related political strategies, or the combination of these two variables, determines the mode of policy change. The author needs to address this possibility or at least clarify his special use of the term. Second, the author's analytical framework has an epistemological problem in that it does not clearly distinguish between normative and positive theories. In general, normative theories incorporate value-based argument, for example, "what ought to happen," as an essential component, and normative theorists elucidate their position on a given subject. In contrast, theories based on positivism (try to) detach subjective value judgments in constructing theories. The author acknowledges that his "analytical framework has both normative and positive elements" (p. 8) and presents a normative analysis in chapter 1. However, none of the theoretical frameworks that are used in developing the author's "normative" theory belongs to the tradition of normative theories. Each of the cited theories may provide prescriptive propositions, but these propositions derive not from normative discussions of value but from empirical analysis, thus generally placing these theories in the positivist tradition. Suzuki also notes in this chapter, "I develop a normative analysis that sets the stage for the positive and empirical analysis" (p. 16). This implies that he combines normative and positive theories, but this is hardly a conventional approach in political science. Where theories such as critical theories do this, they explicitly state their epistemological stance. Unfortunately, since the author here does not explain his epistemological framework, his use of the term "normative theory" is confusing at best. Third, the book lacks consistency in its use of analytical models and theories. In chapter 1, the author discusses theories of institutional change along with the international relations theories of transgovernmentalism and intergovernmentalism. In chapter 2, based on existing studies, he presents four models of the relationship between...

인간의 보편적 공간관과 풍수 : 공간 및 경관 심리와 풍수의 관계를 통한 시론적 고찰

본 연구의 목적은 인간 보편적인 공간관의 의미와 사례를 살펴보고, 한국의 전통 공간관인 풍수와의 관계를 시론적으로 고찰하는 것이다. 이를 위해 연구는 진화심리학에 주목해, 인간 생존을 위한 다양한 문제 중 "공간"과 관련된 "서식처 선택"을 통해 공간에 대한 인간 마음의 근원을 살펴보았다. 이를 바탕으로, 연구는 공간과 경관에 대한 인간의 보편적인 심리에는 어떠한 내용들이 있는지를 살펴보고, 나아가 이들의 풍수 논리와의 연관성에 대해 고찰하였다. 본 연구는 정량적 실험을 통한 논증하는 성격이 아닌 시론적 고찰로서, 일견 연구자의 주관적 가치판단에 의존한 글로만 비춰질 수 있다. 그러나 이러한 시도가 의미가 없는 것은 아니다. 본 연구는 아직 명확히 정립되지 못한 인간 보편적 공간관이 무엇인가를 살펴보는 첫 시도가 될 것이며, 나아가 풍수가 한국의 지형 및 문화적 특성을 반영하고 있는 인간 보편적 공간관의 하나로의 인식으로 자리매김하기 위한 시도라 할 수 있다. This study aims to analyze the human universal spatial views, and study theoretically the relationship between the human universal spatial views and Feng-shui, a Korean traditional spatial view. For this, this study noticed the evolutionary psychology. And this study took a look at the origin of human mind through the ‘habitat selection’, which was related to ‘space’. Based on this, this study examined what was the human universal psychology related to space and landscape, and examined the connection between the human universal psychology and Feng-shui. This study does not have the demonstrative characteristics through the quantitative analysis, but the study"s theoretical characteristics could give some sense to readers that this study is only independent of subjective value judgements of the research. But this pioneering try is not senseless. This study would be the first try to examine what is the human universal spatial view. And this study would be also the try to establish that Feng-shui, which has the characteristics of Korean terrain and culture, is the one of human universal spatial views.

A conceptualisation framework for building consensus on environmental sensitivity

Examination of the intrinsic attributes of a system that render it more or less sensitive to potential stressors provides further insight into the baseline environment. In impact assessment, sensitivity of environmental receptors can be conceptualised on the basis of their: a) quality status according to statutory indicators and associated thresholds or targets; b) statutory protection; or c) inherent risk. Where none of these considerations are pertinent, subjective value judgments can be applied to determine sensitivity. This pragmatic conceptual framework formed the basis of a stakeholder consultation process for harmonising degrees of sensitivity of a number of environmental criteria. Harmonisation was sought to facilitate their comparative and combined analysis. Overall, full or wide agreement was reached on relative sensitivity values for the large majority of the reviewed criteria. Consensus was easier to reach on some themes (e.g. biodiversity, water and cultural heritage) than others (e.g. population and soils). As anticipated, existing statutory measures shaped the outcomes but, ultimately, knowledge-based values prevailed. The agreed relative sensitivities warrant extensive consultation but the conceptual framework provides a basis for increasing stakeholder consensus and objectivity of baseline assessments. This, in turn, can contribute to improving the evidence-base for characterising the significance of potential impacts.

Land suitability assessment for urban green space using AHP and GIS: A case study of Ahvaz parks, Iran

Soil is a vital parameter for planting design in urban green spaces especially in adverse climate conditions. In this study, the utilization of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in surveying land suitability for urban green space from measured criteria like suitability indices, including physical (i.e. clay, silt, sand, bulk density, penetration resistance), chemical (i.e. electrical conductivity, sodium absorption ratio, organic matter, Olsen phosphorus, water soluble potassium and DTPA-extractable of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and heavy metal (i.e. total Ni, Cd and Pb) properties of soil and topography attributes (i.e. slope degree) data were investigated. The subjective value judgment, in light of questionnaire survey was utilized for pair-wise comparison after standard AHP method in a structure of four criteria (suitability indices) alongside related sub-criteria (19 factors). AHP method and GIS techniques were combined to create suitability map. The outcomes demonstrated that less than 8.86% of the all study region has no restriction and 34.54% has extreme restrictions for green space land use. The southern part of the riverside parks had higher suitability, whereas the northern area had lower suitability. The real limiting variables include soil compaction, soil salinity, and Zn deficiency; albeit direct mild accumulations were for lead in Ahvaz riverside parks. This study delineates the efficacy of AHP and weighted overlay model for the soil suitability investigation of green space in the study territory. In light of the outcomes, bulk density and organic matter are the most vital indices of soil in urban green space.

PRIORITIZING HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT USING ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP) – A CASE STUDY OF NEPAL

<p>Nepal possesses huge hydropower potential but lacks experience, funding and political stability which are critical to development. Different national strategies have been proposed in the past ranging from promoting small scale hydro that provides local to regional economic incentives to the recommendation of large schemes to enhance national objectives. This paper analyses the last few decades of hydropower development in Nepal and proposes a multi-criterion approach, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), to identify projects considering social and environmental concerns in addition to economic objectives. A multi-perspective look at prioritizing hydropower schemes namely micro (below 1 MW), small (from 1-25 MW), medium (from 25-100 MW), big (from 100-1000 MW) and large (greater than 1000 MW) is important in order for hydropower development to proceed in the best possible way. This perspective could be of use in strengthening hydropower related strategy and policy in Nepal.</p><p> </p><p>The prioritization procedure is embedded into a multi-objective framework including six goals, namely a technical goal measured by four criteria, a social goal with five criteria, an economic goal with six criteria, an environmental goal with 4 criteria, a political goal characterised by 4 criteria and an additional goal referring to the various uncertainties, expressed by five criteria. Evidence based subjective value judgment based on secondary sources, mainly related documents and experts consultations, is used for the prioritization approach. This research could help policy makers to maximize the benefit to the country by adopting appropriate policies and strategies. </p><p> </p><p>The effectiveness of multi criteria evaluation techniques and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for hydropower prioritization is the focus of this research. The outcome of the paper is the secondary information based on the AHP application for hydropower scale of schemes prioritization.</p><p> </p><p>This paper is presented in six sections. The first section is the introduction focusing on the country context and MCDA in hydropower. The second section discusses the problem definition, and the third section describes objectives and tasks. Similarly, the fourth section details the applied methodology, and the fifth section describes the results and discussion. Finally, the sixth section presents conclusions and recommendations of the research work. </p>