Abstract
Assisting those wanting to explore localisation as a transformative sustainability strategy, this article provides the results of interviews with six localisation experts to determine localisation metrics. The interviews aimed to determine localisation qualities that should be captured for localisation measurement, and/or metrics that might be used to measure these. The shared expert belief and opinion regarding these metrics and qualities was expanded using writings by these and other experts. The formed metric set includes: (1) resource self-reliance; (2) resource dependence; (3) social health; (4) environmental damage/impact; (5) localisation type/governance participation; and (6) control and ownership of resources, land, assets and business. These metrics may be used to determine how localised a community, region, or country is, and to form localisation indexes. This article describes the formation of the metric set, and may assist clarification of localisation understandings by enabling measurement.
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Appendices
Appendix 1: Localisation Expert Interview Guide
SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
INSTITUTE FOR LAND, WATER AND SOCIETY, CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIA
LOCALISATION EXPERT INTERVIEW GUIDE
Background Information
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Name of Interviewer…………………………Time….…………Date………………
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Name of Respondent……………………………
Introduction
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Hello my name is Michelle Olivier. I am a student from Charles Sturt University, Australia.
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I am researching localisation and sustainability.
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Please remember that participation in this interview is voluntary and you are free to withdraw at any time. The information that will be collected from you will be treated with confidentiality if you would like, and the results of the project can be made available to you if interested. Is it OK with you if the interview is recorded?
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Thank you for consenting to participate in this research.
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Now I would like us to proceed to the interview, which will take about 1 h.
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1.
How do you believe that localisation might be recognised?
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What sort of spatial boundaries?
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Resource use
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Social aspects
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Political aspects
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Governance aspects
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2.
What does localisation mean or constitute to you?
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Centralised government involvement
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Trade with other regions
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International trade
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3.
What do you believe is the relationship of localisation to sustainability?
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Its role
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As a sustainability strategy
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In the future
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4.
What are your thoughts on localisation as a sustainability strategy?
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5.
What metrics do you believe might best represent localisation for measurement purposes?
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Resources
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Social
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Community
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Governance
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6.
How would you succinctly define localisation?
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Physical description
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Logistical arrangements
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Life requirements
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Political structures
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Appendix 2: Localisation Interview Q. 5 Metrics Word Count
Localisation metrics word count
Word | Count | Weighted percentage | Similar words |
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Local | 32 | 2.74 | Local, localism, locally |
Localisation | 21 | 1.80 | Localisation, localised, localising |
Measures | 19 | 1.63 | Measure, measurement, measures, measuring |
Metric | 14 | 1.20 | Metric, metrics |
Energy | 11 | 0.94 | Energy |
People | 10 | 0.86 | People |
Economy | 8 | 0.68 | Economy |
Dependency | 5 | 0.43 | Dependency |
Miles | 5 | 0.43 | Miles |
Blueprint | 4 | 0.34 | Blueprint |
Fossil | 4 | 0.34 | Fossil |
Central | 4 | 0.34 | Central, centralised |
Adapt | 3 | 0.26 | Adapt, adapting |
Behavior | 3 | 0.26 | Behavior |
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Olivier, M. ., Wilson, B.P. & Howard, J.L. Determining Localisation Metrics. Soc Indic Res 131, 467–487 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-016-1269-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-016-1269-6