SOCIO -ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT

SOCIO -ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT (SIA)

SIA can be defined as

·         “The estimating and appraising of the condition of a society organized and changed by the large scale application of high technology” (wolf,  1974)

·              “The systematic advanced appraisal of the impacts on the  day to day quality life of people and communities when the environment is affected by development or policy change” (Bowles, 1981).

SIA can be integrated part of EIA or can be separate study. Socio economic impacts are vitally important but are often intangible.

 TYPES OF SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPACTS

1.     Direct economic

·        local, non local employment

·        characteristics of employment (skill group)

·        labor supply and training

·        wage levels

2.     Indirect/ wider economic/ expenditure

·        Employees retail expenditure

·        Linked suppliers to main development

·        Labor market pressure

·        Wider multiplier effects

3.     Demographic

·       Changes in population size: temporary and permanent

·    Changes in other population characteristics (e.g. family size, income levels, socio economic groups)

·        Settlement patterns

4.     Housing

·       Public and private

·        Housing prices

·        Homelessness and other housing problems

5.     Other local services: public and private sector

·        Health services: social support

·        Recreation, transport etc.

·        Local finances

6.     Socio- cultural

·        Life styles/ quality of life

·        Social problem such as crime, illness, divorce etc.