Analysis of the Evolution of Expert Opinion on Sustainability Policies through the Neutrosophic STATIS Method

Yet the problem of evaluating sustainability policies over time stems from needing to monitor the changing nature of expert agreement needed for dependency-based improvements in the environment. While this is undoubtedly helpful for relatively sustainable action, easier said than done requires methodological systems to assess how agreement grows and solidifies. Here it should be noted that the conventional STATIS approach, while successful in multivariate assessment, lacks the capacity to evaluate expert assessments factoring uncertainty, indeterminacy, and subjectivity. Therefore, this research goes on to fill this void with the neutrosophic STATIS method applied to a panel of experts assessing ten (10) sustainability policies over three (3) time periods, resulting in ease of modeling opinion and visualization of intent. Ultimately, the results indicate that a consensus structure exists and evolves over time, yet there is agreement on the success of energy policies, while circular economy initiatives never become certain. Thus, this study contributes to the literature in two ways: First, theoretically, it legitimizes a consistent framework for dynamic evaluation of complex subjective assessments; Second, practically, it allows for managers to understand where there is agreement and disagreement to create more fluid public policies.