scholarly journals Testing the Social Bubble Hypothesis on the Early Dynamics of a Scientific Project: The FET Flagship Candidate FuturICT (2010–2013)

Entropy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1279
Author(s):  
Monika Gisler ◽  
Didier Sornette
Keyword(s):  
Risk Taking ◽  
Time Allocation ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Standard Cost ◽  
The Social ◽  
Scientific Project ◽  
The Individual

We present an analysis of a large emerging scientific project in the light provided by the social bubbles hypothesis (SBH) that we have introduced in earlier papers. The SBH claims that, during an innovation boom or technological revolution, strong social interactions between enthusiastic supporters weave a network of reinforcing feedbacks that leads to widespread endorsement and extraordinary commitment, beyond what would be rationalized by a standard cost–benefit analysis. By probing the (Future and Emerging Technologies) FET Flagship candidate FuturICT project, as it developed in 2010–2013, we aimed at better understanding how a favorable climate was engineered, allowing the dynamics and risk-taking behaviors to evolve. We document that significant risk-taking was indeed clearly found—especially during workshops and meetings, for instance, in the form of the time allocation of participants, who seemed not to mind their precious time being given to the project and who exhibited many signs of enthusiasm. In this sense, the FuturICT project qualifies as a social bubble in the making when considered at the group level. In contrast, risk-perception at the individual level remained high and not everyone involved shared the exuberance cultivated by the promoters of FuturICT. As a consequence, those not unified under the umbrella of the core vision built niches for themselves that were stimulating enough to stay with the project, but not on a basis of blind over-optimism. Our detailed field study shows that, when considering individuals in isolation, the characteristics associated with a social bubble can vary significantly in the presence of other factors besides exaggerated risk-taking.

The Heroin Problem: Policy Alternatives in Dealing with Heroin Use

1974 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Marks
Keyword(s):  
Methadone Maintenance ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Detailed Comparison ◽  
Therapeutic Communities ◽  
Heroin Use ◽  
Policy Alternatives ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Heroin Maintenance

The paper examines the social and private aspects of heroin use in the U.S. today and attempts to estimate the associated costs, both society's and the individual user's. Possible goals of any government policy are discussed. Twelve possible policy alternatives are examined, eight dealing with the demand for heroin, and four dealing with its supply. These alternatives are compared using a rough cost-benefit analysis in terms of costs and benefits to society at large. A more detailed comparison is made of therapeutic communities, methadone maintenance, and the British experience of prescription heroin maintenance as alternatives. The conclusion is reached that to minimize social cost while containing the spread of heroin usage a scheme of prescription heroin should be implemented; but if the spread of usage is seen as benign, the best policy is to sell the drug freely to any adult as alcohol is today.

scholarly journals Responsive Governance and Harmful Microbial Blooms on Lake Erie: An ABM Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
DG Webster ◽  
Tyler Pavlovich
Keyword(s):  
Lake Erie ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Distinct Region ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Action Threshold ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Model Features

In general, decision makers tend to respond to problems rather than prevent them. In political science, this process of responsive governance is associated with complex dynamics such as availability cascades and punctuated equilibrium. However, most authors treat problems as one-time events, like oil spills or political scandals. Here, we use an agent based model loosely based on the Lake Erie watershed to explore how responsive governance evolves along with an on-going but noisy environmental problem: harmful microbial blooms. This conceptual model features a two-level decision process based on Jones and Baumgartner (2005). Meta-agents representing the individual level of analysis “perceive” blooms either directly via observation if they are near a bloom or indirectly through the media. As a meta-agent observes more blooms, their concern increases until it crosses an action threshold, at which point they use simple cost-benefit analysis to select from a range of options. One of these options is to send a signal to their policy agent, which aggregates these political signals based on a range of assumptions and then decides on actions in much the same way as the metapopulations themselves. We examine two major scenarios, one in which there is a single policy maker managing the entire region (e.g. the national government) and one where there are 5 policy makers, each separately regulating a demographically and geographically distinct region. Although the model is relatively simple, it lets us explore how variability in risk perception and responsive governance shape the functioning of the entire coupled human and natural system, including biophysical feedbacks.

Evolutionary Biology and Political Theory

1990 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger D. Masters
Keyword(s):  
Political Theory ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Observational Research ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual

The traditional emphasis on human nature as the foundation of politics needs to be reexamined from the perspective of contemporary biology. Because biological processes operate independently on the individual, the social group, and the species, an evolutionary approach to both observational research and cost-benefit analysis does not entail reductionism. Selfishness and altruism, participation in social groups, languages and cultures, and the rise and fall of centralized states can all be illuminated by empirical evidence and theories in the life sciences. For political philosophy, a new “naturalism” points to a return to the Aristotelian view that values or standards of judgment have rationally intelligible foundations, thereby challenging the relativist or nihilistic orientation that has characterized most contemporary thought.

scholarly journals International Technical Standards: An Overview

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Hebner
Keyword(s):  
Hybrid System ◽  
Economic Benefit ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Technical Standards ◽  
Global Standards ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Cost

The growing globalization of industry is stimulating a growing emphasis on international standards. Standards are important because they provide significant economic benefit. They are also costly and much of the benefit is broad-based, i.e. it does not accrue preferentially to those who incur the cost. Finally, there is a highly disaggregated international standards system and at least two very different basic philosophies as to how standard systems should operate. The effect of the individual cost-benefit analysis by organizations may produce a hybrid system that produces both global standards in which each country participates in the development as well as less costly technical and consortium standards.

scholarly journals MEASURING THE EFFICIENCY OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

2020 ◽  
pp. 193-198
Author(s):  
A. N. Timokhovich ◽  
O. I. Nikuradze
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
The Social ◽  
Common Problems ◽  
Definition Of

The problems of measuring the efficiency of social entrepreneurship have been affected. The aim of the study is to identify the most relevant methods for measuring social value and evaluating the effects that arise as a result of the activities of social organizations. Various interpretations of the definition of the term “social entrepreneurship” have been given in the article. The main elements of the process of social entrepreneurship, features of the goal setting and risks of activities in the study area have been emphasized. The stages of planning activities in the field of social entrepreneurship have been described. The most common problems of measurements and evaluation of social effects that social entrepreneurs have to deal with in the process of carrying out activities related to the implementation of social projects: difficulty in achieving a quantitative evaluation, difficulty in predicting the long-term effect of activities, limitations on costs, time resources, indicators of accuracy and interpretation of results have been revealed. Problems in forecasting the effectiveness of social projects have been identified. The main methods that can be used by social entrepreneurs and organizations for measuring the social value and assessing impact of ongoing activities (method of cost-benefit analysis, method of social accounting, method of social return on investment, method of analysis of the main resources of efficiency) have been analysed. Recommendations for social entrepreneurs have been formulated.

Applying Social Psychological Perspectives to the Sport Psychology Consulting Process

1997 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Brustad ◽  
Michelle Ritter-Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Clinical And Counseling Psychology ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Disordered Eating Patterns ◽  
Applied Sport Psychology

Psychological processes in sport are inextricably linked to the social contexts within which they occur. However, research and practice in applied sport psychology have shown only marginal concern for the social dimensions of participation. As a consequence of stronger ties to clinical and counseling psychology than to social psychology, the prevailing model of intervention in applied sport psychology has been individually centered. Focus at the individual level has been further bolstered by cognitive emphases in modem psychology. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for a balanced consideration of social and personal influences. Four social psychological dimensions of interest will be explored, including athletic subculture membership; athletic identity concerns; social networks of influence; and leadership processes. The relevance of these forms of influence will be examined in relation to applied concerns in the areas of athlete academic performance, overtraining and burnout, and disordered eating patterns. At minimum, consultants need to address contextual and relational correlates of psychological and performance issues.

The social valuation of income: a survey approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 808-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
David John Evans ◽  
Erhun Kula ◽  
Yoko Nagase
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Statistical Testing ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Valuation ◽  
Survey Approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to estimate survey-based values of the elasticity of marginal social valuation of income, an important welfare parameter in cost-benefit analysis. Design/methodology/approach – A model relating equity welfare weights to income is developed, and iso-elasticity of marginal valuation of income is tested using survey data obtained from a sample of Turkish politicians who are instrumental in policy making. Findings – Based on the survey feedback, formal statistical testing indicates that Turkish politicians, regardless of party allegiance, reveal preferences consistent with an iso-elastic marginal social valuation of income. The estimated value of the elasticity measure is close to unity for each of the political parties. Originality/value – The originality of the paper is in terms of the survey method used to obtain from Turkish politicians estimates of the marginal social valuation of income. This welfare parameter is needed in the calculation of both social discount rates and welfare weights. The paper will be of interest to academics in the field of welfare economics as well as to practitioners involved in the appraisal of social projects and policies.

In Search of the “Society Genes”: What Could Be a Link Between Individual Genetics and Social Structure

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Denis S. Andreyuk
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Evolutionary Development ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Genetic Determinants ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Genetically Determined

Genome editing technologies make it important to look for genetic determinants that can influence the structure of society and basic social relations. This paper proposes to look for such determinants in the evolutionarily ancient mechanisms of group interaction, namely in the genes that determine the balance of cooperation and competition. The opposition of these two forces is thought to be the basis of the evolutionary development of intelligence in higher primates and humans. The article provides examples showing that individual characteristics such as extraversion/introversion as measured by the "Big Five" methodology, aggressiveness, which strongly associates with the risk taking, and the level of intelligence, all of these traits a) greatly influence the organization of social processes and b) are largely genetically determined. As a development of this approach of searching for socially significant genetic determinants, it is proposed to model genetic changes in sociality, aggressiveness and intelligence at the individual level, followed by an analysis of the resulting social changes.

Presurgical Routine Screening

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 780-780
Author(s):  
ALAN COHEN ◽  
CAROL BURK
Keyword(s):  
Additional Data ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Routine Screening ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Coagulation Disorders ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Appropriate Use ◽  
Laboratory Screening ◽  
The Individual

In Reply.— Doctors Lackmann and Töllner provide additional data supporting our finding that the discovery of clinically important coagulation disorders during routine preoperative laboratory screening is infrequent. However, these investigators are troubled, as are we, by the problem of determining the appropriate use of screening tests when the disorder is rare and the tests are imperfect, but the consequence of failing to recognize the disorder may be grave. Even the most elaborate cost-benefit analysis may be of little comfort in approaching the individual patient and concerned parents.

The Role of Science

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Saint-Paul
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Social Planner ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Gains And Losses ◽  
Social Engineer

This chapter describes the social sciences. Unlike the natural sciences, the social sciences are inevitably statistical. When documenting human behavior, for example, they can at most claim that a trait is present in a certain fraction of the population. However, the social engineer of the paternalistic state must take into account that the “science of happiness” that is being implemented does not apply uniformly to all individuals. A policy that benefits some by preventing mistakes or removing their biases harms those who are immune to these issues. This difficulty, however, entirely disappears as long as the state is utilitarian or, more generally, pursues any objective that aggregates welfare between individuals, for the statistics are the only thing the utilitarian needs to know. Once the population distribution of the relevant effects and mechanisms is known, the social planner can safely use it to balance gains and losses across incarnations and perform the cost-benefit analysis of its policies.

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