The Measurement of Social Cohesion at Province Level in Poland Using Metric and Interval-Valued Data

Marek Walesiak and Grażyna Dehnel
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Marek Walesiak: Department of Econometrics and Computer Science, Wrocław University of Economics and Business, 53-345 Wrocław, Poland
Grażyna Dehnel: Department of Statistics, Poznań University of Economics and Business, 61-875 Poznań, Poland

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 18, 1-19

Abstract: The notion of social cohesion is increasingly used in the political, economic and academic debate. Due to its multidimensional, the assessment of social cohesion is not easy, especially if it is conducted at a lower than national level of aggregation. The aim of the study is to assess social cohesion in provinces of Poland in 2018 using the hybrid approach involving multidimensional scaling and linear ordering based on an aggregate measure. This type of study is usually conducted using classic metric data. However, the traditional approach does not account for the variation between lower level units (i.e., districts). The authors propose a methodology which makes this possible. Additionally the results of assessment of the multidimensional phenomenon can be presented in a two-dimensional space. Classic metric data and symbolic interval-valued data (three data types: min-max, 1st decile and 9th decile, 2nd decile and 8th decile) are jointly represented in a single diagram. The consistency of the research method ensures comparability of results of linear ordering. Two criteria were used in the comparative analysis of four rankings of social cohesion. The results of the study clearly showed that the current level of social cohesion at the provinces level is geographically and historically dependent.

Keywords: social cohesion; interval-valued data; symbolic data; multidimensional scaling; composite indicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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