Ingen bildrubrik

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Rationality and planning Olle Stjernström
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The concept of rationality in theory!?

• Rationalism ? common sense
• Based on the hypothetical-deductive way of
  thinking
• All humans will die
• Olle is human being
• Thats why Olle also will die someday

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The opposite

• Inductive method
• Knowledge by observations
• Empiricism
• All students are happy
• I saw one student yesterday
• She was happy
• Soall students are happy!

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The concept of rationality in planning

• Economic theory
• John Stuart Mill
• Adam Smith
• (the invisible hand)
• Rationality ? To choose the best alternative in
  every decision
• Best alternative The alternative which, in the
  best way, fulfil the decision-makers own
  material interest, use or benefit

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Example Land values

• Land-use and land values in the city
• Individuals and firms locate themselves were they
  find the best location
• Rational choice
• Factors behind the rational choice?
• Distance to customers
• Scale economics
• Infra-structure
• Living environment
• Safety
• Standard

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Rationality in planning the standard model

• Step 1
• Formulating targets
• Social values
• Democratic values
• Economic values
• Environmental values
• Step 2
• Investigation of alternatives
• Impact assessments
• Alternative costs

• Step 3
• Selection of alternative
• Plan
• Establishment of plan
• Step 4
• Carrying trough the plan
• Step 5
• Experiences
• Feed back (to all steps)

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Isolation of the part

• It involves the analytical isolation of the part
  from the whole, the objective analysis of each
  separate part, and the eventual reassembly of the
  several parts into new wholes as either
  scientific theories or plans of action (Weber)
• Problems
• The parts isolation from the whole
• The problem of things in-between
• The whole is more than the sum of the parts

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Economic versus social rationality (Friedmann)

• Economic (market) rationality
• Unreserved self-interest among individuals and
  firms (economic actors)
• No coordination between actors
• As long as some will improve their conditions
  without making it worse for others (actors) the
  social economy benefits (Pareto-optimum)
• Requires perfect competition and complete
  information

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Social rationality

• Never a perfect world (competition and
  information)
• Negative effects
• Unemployment
• Segregation
• Social exclusion

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The fundaments of social rationality

• Based on the assumption that every individual is
  a part of a social group which constitutes a
  collective interest.
• The collective interest is more important than
  the individual interests.
• Social welfare not by the pareto-optimum, but by
  collective interests

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The model of rational planning a critique

• The rational planning model and decision-making
  is a myth!
• Rationality is more towards ideology
• A facade

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The power of normative and quantitative basic
data for decision-making

• Rational arguments
• Quantification ? safety
• Large projects and unusual planning situations ?
  uncertainty
• (rational) Planning and uncertainty are not
  compatible concepts
• Programmed and non-programmed decision-making
  (Sahlin)

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Uncertainty examples

• The cost of large scale infrastructure projects.
• Normally to a great extent under-estimated
• Why?
• Time-limits
• Self-interest
• Reformed legislation
• Changed policies and values (among the users or
  customers)

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The functionalistic era and rational planning

• The functionalism is highly influenced by
  rationalistic planning, in fact functionalism
  rational planning
• Separation of different functions
• The society-machine analogy
• Materialisation and Technification of human needs
• Sometimes separation is good

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The systems view of planning (Taylor)

• Things or societies as systems
• System composed and interconnected parts
• Everything is related to everything else.

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The rational process of planning (Taylor Faludi)

• What is planning?
• A method for decision-making?
• A multi-discipline with theories and methods?
• The geographers answer
• A spatial discipline with emphasis on spatial
  distribution and relations.

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Faludi 1973

• Distinguishes between
• Substantive planning
• Planning theories about the object
• Theories in planning
• Procedural planning
• Planning theories about the process of planning
• Theories about planning

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From Geddes to the modern Swedish municipal
comprehensive plans (översiktsplan)

• Survey
• A need of something (public goods, housing
  estates, societal problem)
• Analysis
• Several alternative plans
• Evaluation
• Compare environmental impact assessment
• Zero-alternative (doing nothing)
• Plan
• Planning does not stop here
• Plan also involves action or implementation
• The importance of institutions
• Law-making
• Property-right
• Land surveys agencies

• A modern comprehensive plan
• Visions in combination with surveys
• What we can say about the future with various
  methods and techniques
• What we want to do in the future
• Political ambitions and visions
• Analysis
• Several alternative plans or scenarios
• Evaluation
• EIA
• Plan
• Does not stop by presenting the plan
• Act as a guideline for other more detailed plans

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Environment and rational planning

• Rational planning is depending on facts
• Rational planning and uncertainty (still)!
• Rational planning and medieval beliefs?
• Rational planning and environmental religion!?

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An up-side world

• Democracy or demo crazy?