Embedding as a pitfall for survey‐based welfare indicators: evidence from an experiment

Clemens Hetschko, Louisa von Reumont and Ronnie Schöb
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Ronnie Schoeb

Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, 2019, vol. 182, issue 2, 517-539

Abstract: Welfare measurement using multiple indicators requires knowledge about how individuals weight different aspects of wellbeing. The better life index provides a way of resolving this individual level weighting issue. It invites people to weight 11 dimensions, embedding measurable indicators. Ideally, the specific embedding of the same indicators should not change their weights in a welfare function. Our experiment shows, however, that varying the embedding structure decisively affects people's weightings, i.e. we observe strong embedding effects. The better life index hence fails to measure citizens’ true preferences. Embedding thus opens a gateway to manipulating survey‐based welfare measures.

Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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https://doi.org/10.1111/rssa.12410

Related works:
Working Paper: Embedding as a Pitfall for Survey-Based Welfare Indicators: Evidence from an Experiment (2017)
Working Paper: Embedding as a pitfall for survey-based welfare indicators: Evidence from an experiment (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:jorssa:v:182:y:2019:i:2:p:517-539

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