Improving the quality of integrated policy analysis: impact assessment for sustainable development in the European Commission

Abstract

While a broad consensus has emerged around the need for a balanced approach to impact assessment, there is continuing debate on the appropriate methodology and tools. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the case for using economic valuation techniques in order to integrate the different dimensions of sustainable development and provide an improved methodology for assessing the sustainable development impacts of policy interventions. We explore this issue in the context of the approach used in the European Commission for assessing the potential contribution of the Commission’s policy interventions to Europe’s sustainable development strategy.