Political Decision Making: Real Decisions in Real Political Contexts

An interdisciplinary framework for participatory modeling design and evaluation—What makes models effective participatory decision tools?

“…First, a common criticism of optimization is that the “best” optimal solution is determined by an analytical structure that may not fully capture the complexity of the actual problem under investigation. Second, optimization models can be particularly compatible with problems dominated by economic objectives and the assumptions of rational choice theory [ Hisschemöller et al ., ; Rogers et al ., ]. The authors, hence, adapted the optimization model to prioritize and aggregate options but integrated the modeling process with cognitive mapping to engage stakeholders early on during the problem‐structuring phase, and elicited from the participants' assessment qualitative and semiquantitative indicators.…”

Governing the urban water commons : essays on collaborative policy networks in a polycentric ecology of urban water policy games.

“…This definition is situated within the broader environmental governance definition, which looks at the formal and informal rules and practices guiding actors' use of social-ecological systems Pahl-Wostl, 2009). The governance of water resources and other social-ecological systems is based upon theories of collective action (Rogers, MacDonnell, & Lydon, 2009). Water, as a "fugitive resource"-its supply engenders natural monopolies and its use also generates to externalities (Rogers et al, 2009, p. 225)-requires institutions capable of 1) minimizing transaction costs among actors, and 2) effective monitoring and enforcement of common rules to punish defectors and free-riders (Schneider et al, 2003).…”

“…More importantly, the above institutional prescriptions are generally in response to the limits of the economic theory of politics (Rogers et al, 2009). The economic theory of politics was first critiqued by Downs (1957), which later became the bedrock in developing what became known as the 'rational choice' or 'public choice' governance model (see Brennan & Buchanan, 1984;Keating, 1995).…”