The state of socioeconomic impact analysis in the united states: An examination of existing evidence, limitations and opportunities for alternative futures

Abstract

The field of socioeconomic impact analysis ha developed rapidly since the early 1970s. Despit extensive development, the field is facing a crisi with the public's environmental concern, the numbe of researchers devoting primary attention to impac analysis, and the financial support essential to th area's future productivity declining. It is thu appropriate to assess the present state of knowledg in socioeconomic impact analysis, to evaluate it conceptual and methodological limitations and t examine the likely future of the area as both a academic and a policy-relevant field of analysis This article assesses the current state of knowledg related to the economic, demographic, public servic and fiscal, and social impacts of large-scale deve lopments, discusses conceptual and methodologica limitations in the field and outlines three possibl scenarios for its future development. Its future i seen as dependent on extensive conceptual and metho dological developments and on increased sensitivit to policy-making requirements. © 1986 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.