Marco Fattore

Bio: Marco Fattore is an academic researcher from University of Milano-Bicocca. The author has contributed to research in topics: Vulnerability & Poverty. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 4 publications receiving 36 citations.

Synthesis of Multi-indicator System Over Time: A Poset-based Approach

Abstract: In recent years, sustainable development has become one of the main issues of scientific and institutional debate. The literature on this concept is wide and often presents conflicting positions. This leads to considering sustainable development as a contested concept. The growing interest and importance of this topic has also led to an increasing focus on the aspect of its measurement. Dealing with the measurement of complex phenomena, like sustainable development, means dealing with synthesis. The traditional and dominant approach to the synthesis of multi-indicator systems of cardinal variables is the use of the aggregative-compensative approach. Despite its success, this approach presents a series of critical issues. In this paper, we propose a method of synthesizing multi-indicator systems over time based on the Partial Order Theory. Applying and comparing the method we proposed and an aggregative method, the Adjusted Mazziotta–Pareto Index, to one of the 15 sustainable development goals, we highlight the strengths of the new methodological proposal.

Measuring Equitable and Sustainable Well-Being in Italian Regions: The Non-aggregative Approach

Abstract: The official Italian well-being measuring system (“Equitable and Sustainable Well-being—BES”) is probably the worldwide most advanced attempt to pursue the beyond GDP perspective effectively. In it, well-being is described in terms of 12 domains and a complex multi-indicator system of around 130 indicators, drawn mainly from Istat (official Italian statistical bureau) surveys and administrative archives. In order to get a more synthetic view of well-being, in the last four BES reports Istat employed aggregative procedures providing composite indicators for each well-being domain. The aggregative road to synthesis is however problematic, when complex and non-highly correlated indicator systems are to be summarized, mainly due to its compensative nature and interpretational difficulties. As a valuable alternative, in this paper we adopt a non-aggregative approach to synthesis, based on Partially Ordered Set Theory (Poset Theory) and show how it can be used to provide more “complexity-preserving”insights into well-being. In particular, we describe each well-being domain as a partially ordered set and compute synthetic indicators for well-being rankings at regional level for year 2017, getting more robust and interpretable results than with mainstream aggregative procedures.

Social and Material Vulnerability of the Italian Municipalities: Comparing Alternative Approaches

Abstract: In this paper, we address the measurement of vulnerability at municipality level, by using novel non-aggregative tools for the construction of synthetic indicators and for the extraction of rankings, based on the theory of partially ordered sets. We compare the results of the non-aggregative procedure to those provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics, through the Index of Social and Material Vulnerability (applied to 2011 census data) and show that, although the overall pictures rendered by the two approaches are very similar, they are not equivalent, some local areas being resolved and some municipalities being ranked differently. The synthetic vulnerability scores are complemented with a measure of the degree of diversity of the vulnerability patterns, to give a more faithful picture of the complexity of the phenomenon and provide policy-makers with a more realistic view on it.

Targeting Policies for Multidimensional Poverty and Social Fragility Relief Among Migrants in Italy, Using F-FOD Analysis

Abstract: In this paper, we apply the novel Fuzzy First-Order Dominance (F-FOD) methodology to rank migrant subpopulations in Lombardy (Italy), in terms of multidimensional poverty and social fragility, for the year 2014, with the purpose to possibly provide useful support to policy-makers, in targeting relief interventions from poverty and discomfort. The F-FOD methodology allows for the direct comparison of different distributions of poverty and fragility, assessed by means of suitable ordinal multi-indicator systems, so extending to this more complex setting, the usual univariate first-order dominance criterion. It also provides complimentary “incomparability” scores, to assess to what extent the final rankings are reliable or instead forcing. It turns out that the levels of poverty and fragility of migrant subpopulations are quite different and, in particular, that the time since migrations has a key impact, on the identification of most critical cases, which typically involve recently migrated people. Evidence also emerges that the temporal poverty/fragility trajectories of migrants, distinguished by country of origin, follow different paths, suggesting how policy interventions must be properly, and differently, tuned to be effective.

Measuring consumers’ level of satisfaction for online food shopping during COVID-19 in Italy using POSETs

Abstract: The pandemic COVID 19 has upset the economic, social, financial, and general behavioral systems. Global crisis has a large impact overall and related fallouts significantly affect existent structural paradigms in every country and region across the world. In particular, the spread of COVID-19 pandemic has led to having to rethink the way we produce and consume food. Within this global change, a rise in the number of consumers who purchase food products online in order to comply with the rules aimed at limiting the circulation of the virus should be emphasized. Consequently, probably causing a long-term positive effect on m-commerce. The purpose is to elaborate on the index of the satisfaction level of consumers of purchasing food online via food shopping channels, by using key factors that characterize the online spending behavior. The analysis was carried out by collection of data deriving from an anonymous online questionnaire administrated via social networks and emails, during the ‘hot’ months of the pandemic progression in Italy, which is March–May 2020. We analyse both dimensions of customer satisfaction (process and outcome), by means of two systems of indicators. We reduce their complexity using synthesis obtained with the Partially ordered set. Results highlight the differences between the two dimensions of customer satisfaction. Online shopping can surely contribute to reduction of food waste thanks to elimination of frenzied shopping routines at supermarkets and can open space to new fields of study. On the other hand, defining an index of the consumer's satisfaction can alter sales strategies of m-commerce managers and entrepreneurs.

Synthesis of Multi-indicator System Over Time: A Poset-based Approach

Abstract: In recent years, sustainable development has become one of the main issues of scientific and institutional debate. The literature on this concept is wide and often presents conflicting positions. This leads to considering sustainable development as a contested concept. The growing interest and importance of this topic has also led to an increasing focus on the aspect of its measurement. Dealing with the measurement of complex phenomena, like sustainable development, means dealing with synthesis. The traditional and dominant approach to the synthesis of multi-indicator systems of cardinal variables is the use of the aggregative-compensative approach. Despite its success, this approach presents a series of critical issues. In this paper, we propose a method of synthesizing multi-indicator systems over time based on the Partial Order Theory. Applying and comparing the method we proposed and an aggregative method, the Adjusted Mazziotta–Pareto Index, to one of the 15 sustainable development goals, we highlight the strengths of the new methodological proposal.

A Statistical Measurement of Poverty Reduction Effectiveness: Using China as an Example

Abstract: Poverty is no longer a problem of income alone. Healthy poverty and capacity poverty have become key factors affecting the poverty reduction effectiveness. Based on “double cut-offs” multidimensional poverty identification method of Alkire and Foster (J Public Econ 95(7–8): 476–487, 2011), this paper proposes a “triple cut-offs” identification method of multidimensional poverty reduction effectiveness, and construct the chronic multidimensional poverty reduction index combined with chronic thinking of Foster (in: Addison T, Hulme D, Kanbur R (eds) Poverty dynamics: interdisciplinary perspectives. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 59–76, 2009). And this index can comprehensively and systematically measure the China’s multidimensional poverty reduction effectiveness in terms of both poverty alleviation and poverty returning. In this paper, we find that China's chronic multidimensional poverty alleviation index is greater than the country’s chronic poverty returning index, and the chronic multidimensional poverty alleviation/returning index in rural and western regions is greater than that in its cities and other regions in China. The chronic poverty alleviation of per capita net income and medical insurance have contributed a lot to the overall chronic multidimensional poverty alleviation of China’s rural residents, while poverty returning caused by health and housing difficulties has contributed a lot (48.14%) to the chronic multidimensional poverty alleviation of the country’s urban residents. These findings can provide more targeted guidance for poverty governance.

Multidimensionl Poverty and The Role of Social Capital in Poverty Alleviation Among Ethnic Groups in Rural Vietnam: A Multilevel Analysis

Abstract: This paper empirically examines the disparities over time across six dimensions of poverty (monetary, education, health, housing, basic services, and durable assets) between ethnic minority and majority households in rural Vietnam. Using the five-wave panel data of the Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey (VARHS) 2008-2016, we observe improvements in most non-monetary dimensions of poverty for both ethnic groups, while the monetary dimension shows the highest degrees of deprivation and the lowest rate of decrease during the studied period. Health is the only dimension in which ethnic minority households are not only better off than those of majority households during the studied period, but also report improvement. We further explore the role of social capital in ethnic minorities and non-minorities at household and community levels in multiple dimensions of poverty by employing multilevel models. Our study reports the significant effects social capital have at the community level on reducing poverty in the monetary, education, housing, and basic services dimensions for ethnic minorities, while social capital at the household level shows significant effects on monetary, basic services, and durable assets. These findings indicate that policy makers ought to consider the role of social capital when designing poverty alleviation strategies for the country.