Leuven, from 5 to 6 September 2006

Composite Indicators: Theory, Methodology and Applications

This workshop, the fourth in the KEI workshop series, aims at providing a forum for presenting and discussing recent developments in the construction, interpretation and application of composite indicators. The workshop will take place on September 5th and 6th, 2006, at the Catholic University of Leuven, FETEW - Faculty of Economic and Applied Economics, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.

Sessions:

1. Theoretical Frameworks for Composite Indicators
2. Unraveling Composite Indicators’ Construction Methodology:

• Benefit-of-the-Doubt Composites
• Indicators and their Statistical Quality
  

3. Composite Indicators at Work: Applications

For registration information, please contact Nicky Rogge.

Agenda:

Workshop Programme (pdf-file: 1166 kb)

Day 1: Tuesday 5 September 2006:

9.30 - 10.00	Coffee
10.00-10.15	Opening of the KEI workshop Dean: Prof. Dr. Joep Konings, Catholic University of Leuven (BE) Prof. Dr. Wim Moesen, Catholic University of Leuven (BE) Prof. Dr. Ralf Münnich, University of Trier (DE)
10.15-12.15	Session 1: Theoretical Frameworks for Composite Indicators Chair: Andrea Saltelli, Joint Research Centre, Ispra (IT) To what extent can composite indicator practitioners counter the criticism that their approach is ’measurement without theory’? This first session presents three theoretical frameworks that may serve as a basis for sensibly constructed composite indicators. Price and Quantity Indices as Role Models for Composite Indicators Prof. Dr. Bert M. Balk, Rotterdam School of Management and Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg (NL) Social Choice Theory and Composite Indicators Dr. Erwin Ooghe, Catholic University of Leuven (BE) and Groupement de Recherche en Economie Quantitative d’Aix Marseille (GREQAM), Marseille (FR) Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation and Composite Indicators Prof. Dr. Guiseppe Munda, Joint Research Centre, Ispra (IT)
12.15-13.30	Lunch
13.30-15.00	Session 2a - Unraveling Composite Indicators Construction Methodology Chair: Prof. Dr. Bert M. Balk, Rotterdam School of Management and Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg (NL) This session further highlights some methodological issues that arise in the construction of a composite indicator. How robust is the end-product? How do we combine the sub-indicators? And, on the most fundamental level: how can we assess the statistical quality of the raw indicators that are its building blocks?
	The Benefit-of-the-Doubt Approach to KBE-Composite Indicators Prof. Dr. Tom Van Puyenbroeck, Catholic University of Leuven, and European University College, Brussels (BE)
	Robust Alternatives to Estimate Benchmark Frontiers Prof. Dr. Léopold Simar, Catholic University of Leuven, Louvain-la-Neuve (BE)
15.00-15.30	Coffee break

13.30-15.00	Session 2b - Indicators and their Statistical Quality Chair: Prof. Dr. Ralf Münnich, University of Trier (DE)
	A Multiple Imputation Approach to Indicators Luis Huergo, University of Tübingen (DE)
	Quality Aspects of Knowledge Economy Indicators Dr. Nicole Thees, University Trier (DE)

19.00

Dinner

Day 2: Wednesday 6 September 2006:

8.30-9.00	Coffee
9.00-11.45	Session 3: Composite Indicators at Work: Applications Chair: Dr. Asterios Chatziparadeisis, Greek Ministry of Development, Athens (EE) The issue in this third session is also challenging: can we learn something from composite indicators? What is there value-added for practitioners?
	A Dynamic Assessment of Knowledge Based Economy Indices Prof. Dr. Laurens Cherchye, Catholic University of Leuven (BE)
	The Role of Composite Indicators for Advocacy of EU reform Andrea Saltelli, Joint Research Centre, Ispra (IT)
11.00-11.15	Coffee break
11.15-11.45	A Multi-Criteria-Based Index for the Knowledge Economy in the EU25. Dr. Michaela Saisana, Joint Research Center, Ispra (IT)
11.45-12.15	End of the workshop
	Dr. Ian Perry, European Commission, Brussels (BE)
	Prof. Dr. Ralf Münnich, University of Trier (DE)
	Prof. Dr. Wim Moesen, Catholic University of Leuven (BE)

Contact details:

Nicky Rogge
Catholic University of Leuven
Centre for Economic Studies
Naamsestraat 69
3000 Leuven
Belgium