Addressing Social Inclusion in the decision analysis of social problems and public policy decisions in Latin America

• In Event: Applications and Examples of Uses in Big Data

Abstract

Many important decisions related to social issues, public policy or public works in Latin America have been taken in a top-down fashion. Policy makers and decision analysts using sophisticated analytical techniques or government officials following political intuition have made important decisions without including in the analysis the people that will be directly affected by the decision outcomes. This approach has led to situations such as the continuous resistance to the construction of the new international airport in Mexico City in spite of the fact that the first phase is only two years away of being completed and the airport start its operations. One reason why not all the people are included in the decision analysis is that most analytic techniques require a certain level of quantitative literacy to participate and this is not always possible, in particular when indigenous or working class communities may be affected. We introduce, to the social and public policy decision-maker, an analytical approach that allows first, the inclusion, in a quantitative way, of the perspectives of all the parties involved in the public decision, second, allows the participation of quantitative illiterate people since the data collection is based on simple binary questions of preferences and finally, allows the inclusion of intangible criteria (e.g. spiritual value for the community) in the decision. A review of different exemplary applications that have allowed more inclusive decisions in Latin America will be provided.

Authors

• Enrique Mu, Carlow University

• Milagros Pereyra-Rojas, Latin American Studies Association