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. 2023 Jan 20;135:104199. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2023.104199

Table 1.

Description of variables used for modelling food policies.

Parameter Survey question(s) Methodology
Environmental-oriented The urban food policies you have implemented or are you planning to implement which of the following objectives are priority? The survey provided that the interviewee could assign two priority levels (high and medium) to each dimension (environmental, economic and social). Therefore, the responses related to the high priority level were weighted as a single unit, while the responses related to the medium priority level were weighted with the value of 0.5. The scores obtained were related to the number of cities belonging to each cluster and subsequently indexed on the scale from 0 to 5.
Social-oriented
Economic-oriented
Policy integration and innovation Would having interdepartmental/inter-departmental structures with dedicated coordination staff be a realistic solution for your reality? The survey provided that the interviewee had five ways of answering. The scores were obtained through the following weighting model:
  • We already have it: unity

  • Very realistic: 0.8

  • Fairly realistic: 0.5

  • Unrealistic: 0.2

  • Not at all realistic: 0

Subsequently, the scores obtained were related to the number of cities present in each cluster and indexed with respect to the 0–5 scale.
Propensity to gather data and information With reference to the urban food policies that you have implemented, have you carried out preliminary analysis of the projects to map and understand the areas on which to intervene?

With reference to the urban food policies that you have implemented, have you already carried out or do you intend to carry out ex-post impact analysis of the projects to provide an account of what has been done?
The parameter expresses the average of the scores indexed on the scale from 0 to 5 of two questions.

Regarding the first question, the interviewee had three methods of answering available, which were weighted as follows:
  • Yes, we have made careful preliminary studies to decide the areas and methods of intervention: unity

  • Yes, we have done some preliminary studies, but there is room for improvement: 0.5

  • No, we didn't: 0

The scores were then related to the number of cities belonging to each cluster and indexed with respect to the 0–5 scale

Regarding the second question, the interviewee had four response modes available, which were weighted as follows:
  • Yes, let's proceed with careful reporting: unity

  • We intend to proceed with a punctual reporting process: 0.5

  • We haven't done it yet but we're going to do it: 0.2

  • We haven't done it yet and I don't think we will: 0

The scores were then related to the number of cities belonging to each cluster and indexed with respect to the 0–5 scale
COVID-19 impacts In your opinion, to what extent has COVID-19 impacted the four dimensions of Food Security defined by FAO? The parameter represents a synthesis of the answers obtained with respect to the four dimensions of food security: access, availability, use and use and stability. The overall number of responses of the four dimensions was related to the number of clusters and subsequently indexed with respect to the 0–5 scale.
Networking If you were to judge the level of active participation of his municipality in the network(s) it belongs to, you would define it….

In your opinion, to what extent can belonging to a network represent an additional stimulus to implement urban food policies?
The parameter expresses the average of the scores indexed on the scale from 0 to 5 of two questions.

Regarding the first question, the interviewee had four methods of answering available, which were weighted as follows:
  • These are/would be projects/policies carried out in synergy with other municipalities: units

  • It is/would be a faithful replica of projects/policies of other municipalities: 0.7

  • We would only take/would take a cue from existing projects/policies: 0.4

  • No, these are/would be projects/policies decided in our municipality without referring to others: 0

The scores were then related to the number of cities belonging to each cluster and indexed with respect to the 0–5 scale

Regarding the second question, the interviewee had five response modes available, which were weighted as follows:
  • A lot: unity

  • Fairly: 0,7

  • Moderately: 0,4

  • A little: 0,2

  • At all: 0

The scores were then related to the number of cities belonging to each cluster and indexed with respect to the 0–5 scale