Searching for complexity. Application of the set‑theory to the analysis of urban mobility readiness index

Abstract

Se han desarrollado numerosas iniciativas para monitorear el desempeño en sostenibilidad de las ciudades, siendo los rankings e indicadores herramientas cruciales para comprender fenómenos urbanos complejos. Sin embargo, estos índices requieren métodos analíticos más profundos para interpretar completamente sus resultados. Este estudio destaca la aplicación de métodos de Teoría de Conjuntos, específicamente el Análisis Comparativo Cualitativo con seguimiento de procesos, analizando el Índice de Preparación para la Movilidad Urbana (UMR) en 60 ciudades para 2021 y 2022. Nuestro logro principal es demostrar la capacidad de la Teoría de Conjuntos para desentrañar la complejidad causal en dinámicas urbanas, encontrando que la preparación para la movilidad urbana y su negación no están determinadas por condiciones singulares, sino por una combinación de ellas.

Numerous initiatives have been developed to monitor the sustainability performance of cities, with rankings and indicators emerging as crucial tools for understanding complex urban phenomena. However, these indices require deeper analytical methods to fully interpret their results. This study highlights the application of Set-Theory methods, specifically Qualitative Comparative Analysis with process-tracing in analyzing the Urban Mobility Readiness Index (UMR) across 60 cities for 2021 and 2022. Our primary achievement is the demonstration of Set-Theory´s ability to unravel the causal complexity in urban dynamics. We find that urban mobility readiness and its negation are not determined by singular conditions but by a combination of conditions. Necessary conditions such as infrastructure and socioeconomic factors have been identified, which are critical for achieving a higher level of readiness in the UMR, and its negation. Cities lacking these conditions are less likely to reach the desired level for sustainable development. Additionally, we reveal that certain conditions serve beyond scope definitions, actively triggering causal mechanisms for both readiness and its negation. This insight underscores the multifaceted nature of urban sustainability, guiding cities towards effective strategies for sustainable development. Our study thus contributes a nuanced understanding of urban mobility, essential for policymakers and urban planners.