The Construction of Quantitative Indicators for Internal Comparisons

Aven, P.O. (1990). The Construction of Quantitative Indicators for Internal Comparisons. IIASA Working Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: WP-90-069

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Abstract

The paper illuminates the necessity for developing internationally consistent statistical and methodological practices required to perform meaningful national and international, particularly East-West, comparative analyses. It addresses the susceptibility of inaccurate and delayed quantification and identification of phenomena in the social sciences as a result of the strict use of conventional indicators and methods of analysis. Throughout the paper, the theme alludes to the urgency to unify the previously divergent "eastern" and "western" economic thinking to facilitate the development of usable international economic comparisons. The lack of common measures and adequate data results in a deficiency of East-West quantitative comparative studies.

The content also encompasses a very concise review of the present methodologies available for using statistical data and developing traditional and, more or less, non-traditional indicators. In reference to this topic, special emphasis is given to the problems and dilemmas of interpreting change in transitional economies, which certainly cannot be solely described by conventional indicators used during an era of stability. Dissatisfaction among experts with the state of existing measurement and monitoring techniques of different aspects of socio-economic development has lead to an on-going construction of now, non-traditional indicators. These attempts are themselves evidence for the heterogeneous manner of approaching essentially the common goal of developing more trustworthy and meaningful indicators.

The desire is to find a process of measurement that is applicable in transition phases as well as stabilized phases of socio-economic development. For precisely this reason, the author favors the linguistic methodology, which is presently the principal approach used in the IIASA Economic Reform and Integration Project for the construction of integral quantitative indicators oriented towards East-West comparative analysis. Finally, he addresses the substance and sequence of the research expected to be performed within the Project.

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