Sorting with TOPSIS through boundary and characteristic profiles

This paper proposes new versions of the TOPSIS method for Multiple Criteria Ordinal Classification (sorting). We apply features found in the literature to prevent ranking reversals in TOPSIS and their impacts on sorting problems. Thus, TOPSIS-Sort-B is presented as an improved version of TOPSIS-Sort for sorting problems in which boundary profiles should be determined. In addition, we propose a novel TOPSIS-based sorting method, called TOPSIS-Sort-C, that should be used to address problems in which it is more appropriate to determine characteristic profiles. Both methods were applied in a numerical application that assessed the degree of economic freedom of 180 countries and assigned them to five pre-defined ordered classes. The results showed coherence when compared with the ratings already found in the literature and provided by a specialized institution.