The Significance of Social and Economic
Impacts in Environmental Assessment

David P. Lawrence
Lawrence Environmental
2003

This research report is intended to help environmental assessment (EA) practitioners, regulators and other stakeholders determine, both individually and collectively, the significance of social and economic impacts.

This study is divided into three major parts:

1. a conceptual analysis, involving a literature review;
2. an experience-based analysis, based on comments from more than one hundred EA and SIA (social impact assessment) commentators and practitioners; and
3. a case example analysis, with 22 selected examples of significance determination procedures.

The major themes addressed in the analysis include the definition of key terms, social and economic impacts most likely to be significant, approaches for determining the significance of social and economic impacts, links to sustainability, the precautionary principle and collaborative EA processes, and status, improvements and residual limitations.

Positions regarding the appropriate approach to social and economic impact significance determination are far from uniform. The conceptual and experience-based analyses are largely complementary. The case examples contribute numerous "ideas" regarding good practice methods and procedures.