Three-Valued Modal Logic for Qualitative Comparative Policy Analysis with Crisp-Set QCA

Georg P. Mueller

No 450, FSES Working Papers from Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Freiburg/Fribourg Switzerland

Abstract: Contradictory and missing outcomes are problems common to many qualitative comparative studies, based on the methodology of crisp-set QCA. They also occur in public policy analyses, e.g. if important background variables are omitted or outcomes of new policies are technically censored. As a new solution to these problems, this article proposes the use of three-valued modal logic, originally introduced by the Polish philosopher Jan Lukasiewicz (1970). In addition to true and false, indeterminate is the third truth-value in this alternative approach, which serves to code missing or contradictory data. Moreover, modal operators allow a differentiation between strict and possible triggers and inhibitors of policy outcomes. The advantages of three-valued modal logic in crisp-set QCA are illustrated by an empirical example from comparative welfare policy analysis. Its conclusions allow comparisons with the corresponding results from a conventional crisp-set QCA of the same data-set.

Keywords: Three-valued modal logic; qualitative comparative analysis (QCA); public policy; social security; international comparisons (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C65 H43 H55 Z18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 14 pages
Date: 2014-07-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hme
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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