Evidence-based decision making is promoted as offering efficiency and effectiveness; however, its uptake has faced barriers such as underdeveloped supporting culture, limited access to evidence, and ...evidence that is not fully relevant. Smart city conceptualizations offer economic and environmental sustainability and better quality of life through evidence-based policy decision-making. We wondered whether smart city theory and practice has advanced the knowledge of evidence-based decision-making. We searched major databases for literature containing a mention of smart cities, decision-making, and policy. We identified relevant literature from a range of disciplines and supplemented these by following backwards and forwards citations. Evidence-based decision-making was found mostly in literature regarding the theory and practice of smart city operations, and, to lesser extents, the articles regarding policy decisions and tactical decisions. Better decision-making which supported the achievement of city sustainability objectives was reported in some articles; however, we found significant obstacles to the further achievement of city objectives in the areas of underachievement in collaborative decision-making, privileging of big data evidence, and artificial intelligence agents as decision-makers. We assembled a definition of smart city decision-making and developed an agenda of research which will support city governments, theorists, and practitioners in better achieving sustainability through improved decision-making.
This chapter describes, justifies, presents the pros and cons of and illustrates the use of simulation modeling as a handy, cost-effective and agile tool for policymakers. Simulation modeling is ...flexible enough to accommodate different levels of detail, precision and time frameworks. It also serves the purpose of a concrete communication platform that facilitates scenario analysis, what-if alternatives and forward looking. We specifically define agent-based modeling within the larger simulation domain, provide a brief overview of other computation modeling methodologies and discuss the concepts of multiple models, verification, validation and calibration. The conceptual framework section closes with a discussion of advantages and disadvantages of using simulation modeling for policy at various stages of implementation. Finally, we present a panorama of actual applications of simulation modeling in policy, with an emphasis on economic analysis.
Due to China’s rapid urbanization, the growing presence of land-lost farmers in land acquisition and resettlement (LAR) cases has led to major practical and academic concerns. However, few studies ...have focused on administration policy restrictions and how they affect land-lost farmers in Chinese courts for land resources. Based on the quantitative analysis and case studies involving 2,242 administrative LAR cases, this interdisciplinary work examines how administrative bureaucracy affects public departments’ ability to win in court. The findings of this study are twofold. First, in the relationship of Tiao, public departments at the top of the hierarchy can use administration policies to screen conflicts, which can increase the win rate of LAR cases. Second, in the relationship of Kuai, authorities’ relationships limit the investment in administration policies, which in turn decide the utility of administration policies in LAR cases. The findings can facilitate the implementation of appropriate administrative and judicial measures in different departments to promote land-lost farmers.
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