Governance Assessment of the Leader Approach in Calabria Using an Integrated AHP - Fuzzy TOPSIS Methodology

The paper carries out an evaluation of the performance of the development process of Leader Approach in the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 in Calabria. An appropriate set of process indicators have been identified and measured in order to evaluate the procedures and actions practiced by Local Action Groups (LAG) in the planning phase of the Local Development Plans. Those indicators have been employed to construct an evaluation tree through which the performance of each LAG is tested and compared to an ideal model of "Good Governance" through the application of an integrated multicriteria methodology based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and fuzzy Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution (fuzzy-TOPSIS). The results outline a possible model for evaluating the quality of the integrated planning process of the LAGs, pointing out eventual elements of criticism and virtuous behaviours.