Socio-economic Impact Assessment Research Articles

Assessment of Socio-Economic Impacts of River Bank Erosion: Enhancing Resilience in the Coastal Belt of Bangladesh

River bank erosion is one of the major natural calamities of Bangladesh. The purpose of this study is to assess the socio-economic impacts of riverbank erosion in Mehendiganj Upazila, Barishal district, using quantitative and qualitative approaches. 58% of the respondents reported that the intensity of erosion is extremely high. 80% of the cultivable land of Ulania union has disappeared in the river where this amount is near 50% for the other two unions. Nearly 45% of the respondents have migrated within the last 4 years. Among the migrated people, 94% reported that their social bondage had been broken. The findings of this research indicate that river erosion significantly affects social, economic, psychological, and ethical risks in the local community. The study will provide a comprehensive guideline to the role of local government, non-government organizations and communities to reduce the adverse impact of river erosion.

The Socio-Economic Impact of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) on Livestock Farming in Sierra Leone, an Empirical Evidence from Six (6) Districts

As a highly infectious disease, Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) has been eradicated by many wealthy nations but remains endemic in most of the world especially countries in Sub-Saharan Africa1. When FMD outbreaks occur in disease free countries and zones that produce livestock for export, the economic impact is clear to see; however, the impact of the disease in endemic countries is more controversial, particularly when compared to diseases that cause greater mortality. Taking into account the limited resources of veterinary services for the implementation of animal disease surveillance anywhere and anytime in Sierra Leone, a socio-economic impact assessment study was conducted to quantify the impacts, spread and occurrence of the disease, in order to target and put in place precautionary control measures including targeted surveillance. The main socio-economic impact question of the study was “What is the social and economic impact of FMD in the districts under review. The study was conducted in 6 districts in the North and East of Sierra Leone. A total of 240 respondents using purposive sampling were interviewed to elicit information on the main socio-economic variables that informed the study. The study established (80%) of the sampled farmers are livestock farmers, while 32 people (13.3%) are crop farmers who mainly practice subsistence farming. The study proved that the yearly income from the sales of livestock both especially large ruminants increase to 154 (64.2%). This percentage plummeted when FMD struck in 2018-2019. The study showed that (55.8% of the household indicated that their cattle suffered from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) during the outbreak of July-August 2018-2019, while goats and sheep suffered Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) with households reporting (70.8%) and 162 (68%) of Infection rates before the commencement of this study. The study recommended that the veterinary division of maintain and improve on active surveillance of FMD, update surveillance plan targeting priority districts and hotspots of FMD outbreak such as livestock markets to maintain the current status of Low risk to prevent social and economic impacts’

Global assessment of healthcare policies and socioeconomic impact of the rapid rising of non-communicable diseases in LMICs: Case study, Cameroon

Background: The rapid transition from communicable diseases (CDs) to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) presents a global health challenge, impacting healthcare policies and socioeconomic dynamics. Our study assesses how the prevalence of NCDs influences health and economic indicators, like, quality of life and productivity by conducting a comprehensive global assessment of the role of healthcare policies in addressing this disease transition with a specific focus on Cameroon. Methodology: The study examined the literature from a range of sources, such as Science Direct, PubMed, and official reports, in order to analyse both global and Cameroonian healthcare policies and highlight opportunities and problems with effectively managing NCDs. Results: The socioeconomic impact of the rising NCDs is core concern, as they impose substantial economic burdens on both individuals and healthcare systems. Sub-Saharan countries, Cameroon inclusive, stand to suffer most if it is not addressed early enough. Moreover, by understanding the socioeconomic implications of NCDs, strategies can be developed to mitigate their adverse effects and improve the overall well-being of populations in LMICs. Conclusion: The increasing prevalence of NCDs poses a significant risk to the well-being of the younger generation, jeopardizing their quality of life. Thus, a thorough analysis of healthcare policies and socioeconomic consequences is essential. It highlights the pressing necessity of a multifaceted strategy to tackle this health transition and underscores the importance of customized approaches to address the unique challenges encountered by countries such as Cameroon.

Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Protected Cultivation: Income, Employment and Livelihood Advancements for Farmers

Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Protected Cultivation: Income, Employment and Livelihood Advancements for Farmers

Social life cycle assessment for industrial product development: A comprehensive review and analysis

The sustainable development goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda encompass a range of global challenges aimed at promoting prosperity and security for both current and future generations. Within this context, the Social Life Cycle Assessment emerges as a valuable tool for assessing the socioeconomic impact assessment associated with the life cycle of industrial products. Despite the presence of a methodological framework with a structured process, the implementation of the Social Life Cycle Assessment within the industrial domain is hampered by the lack of precise indicators, context-specific databases, limited case studies, and the dynamic characteristics inherent in social data. This study conducts a comprehensive review of the scientific literature and examines methodologies, databases, and software, focusing specifically on its applicability in the design and development of industrial products. The main objective is to evaluate the current research effort, identify available technical and digital resources for implementation in industrial companies, and outline key areas of work and specific challenges related to the social dimension of life cycle assessment. The results emphasize the priority of improving indicator frameworks within specific impact categories and developing novel metrics to mitigate uncertainty in decision-making processes. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of transitioning to standardized application procedures within industrial product sectors, thus ensuring methodological consistency and improving the reliability of assessments.

Assessment of Socio-economic Impact of Human-wildlife Conflict on Agriculture: A Case of Smallholder and Subsistence Farmers in Eastern Bhutan

Human-wildlife conflicts are a great concern in where ecosystem services are shared between humans and wildlife animals. This paper examines the socio-economic impacts of human-wildlife conflicts. A descriptive survey design was employed in this study. Primary data were collected by using a simple random sample from 120 households. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency and percentages. The study results showed that there is a substantial social and economic impact on the smallholder and marginal farmers through the loss of crops due to wild animals. The majority of farmers (23%) had incurred annual household economic loss ranging from US$49-US$59 per household.

Socioeconomic impact assessment and empowerment of solar photovoltaic projects for autonomous homes in Colombia

A statistical model has been developed using multivariate analysis techniques to evaluate the social and economic impacts of photovoltaic solar energy projects for autonomous rural housing in Colombia. All the general variables of each impact and the conditions specific to each project were analyzed, according to their location, size of the project, among others related to economic and social impacts to create an appropriate evaluation methodology; through a questionnaire, survey was able to measure the satisfaction of beneficiaries in a project developed by the IPSE (Instituto de Planificación y Promoción de Soluciones Energéticas para las Zonas No Interconectadas). The social investment project was aimed at improving the quality of life of 100 families in the department of Casanare, Colombia. This research has a descriptive and applied field methodological approach, including visits to rural dwellings, application and analysis of instruments, photographic record, interview with experts and direct observation. For the validation of this research work, experts in the field of solar photovoltaic electrification were invited as potential users of the evaluation tool

Evaluasi dan impact assessment pelatihan sekolah lapang pengendalian hama terpadu (SL-PHT) tanaman jagung melalui pengenalan dan aplikasi pestisida nabati di Kabupaten Purbalingga

The Sri Lestari farmer group in Karangbanjar Village, Bojongsari District, Purbalingga Regency works on the cultivation of food crops such as corn and rice, some of them working on horticultural crops. The use of chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides carried out from year to year is quite worrying with the increasing dose of use of Chemical Fertilizers as well as environmentally unfriendly chemicals that are concerned will damage the natural ecosystems. The implementation of integrated pest management field schools (SL-IPM) corn farm efforts are expected to be able to impact the level of application of integrated pesticide control through the identification and application of plant pesticides on the Sri Lestari farmer group. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of the SL-IPM implementation on the level of application of integrated pest control and the socioeconomic impacts of members of the Sri Lestari group. This research was conducted in May 2023. The number of respondents was 35 people using the census technique. Data is analyzed quantitatively. The observed variables are characteristics, pre-test and post-test, and socio-economic impact assessment of members of the farm group. The results of that there was an improvement in understanding, changes in attitudes, skills, knowledge and behavior in the good category (when an increase in respondent understanding of the training material was more than 30% of all pre-test and post-test questions). The number of members of the peasant group who applied the FS-IPM principle of corn crops was 62.86% with an increase in corn productivity of 50.91%.

Assessment of Socioeconomic Impact of Sericulture in Murshidabad: A Social Outreach Programme of Rammohan College

Assessment of Socioeconomic Impact of Sericulture in Murshidabad: A Social Outreach Programme of Rammohan College

Effects of a Primary Care-Based Intervention on the Identification and Management of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease and Mental or Cognitive Comorbidity-A Study Protocol.

Mental and cognitive disorders (MCD) negatively affect the incidence and prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). Medical guidelines recommend the appropriate management of comorbid MCD in patients with CHD, yet there is evidence that the implementation in primary care is not always adequate. We present the protocol for a pilot study that aims to develop a minimally invasive intervention and evaluate its feasibility in the primary care setting to improve the identification and management of comorbid MCD in patients with CHD. The study consists of two consecutive parts and will be carried out in Cologne, Germany. Part 1 comprises the development and tailoring of the intervention, which is guided by qualitative interviews with primary care physicians (PCPs, n = 10), patients with CHD and MCD and patient representatives (n = 10). Part II focuses on the implementation and evaluation of the intervention in n = 10 PCP offices. Changes in PCP behaviour will be analysed by comparing routine data in the practice management system six months before and six months after study participation. In addition, we will explore the influence of organisational characteristics and perform a socio-economic impact assessment. The outcomes of this mixed-method study will inform the feasibility of a PCP-based intervention to improve quality of care in patients with CHD and comorbid MCD.

81 Traac Framework and tool for Regulatory Acceptance and Wider Usability of Tools/Methods for safe Innovation and Sustainability of Nanomaterials

Abstract There has been an increasing use of manufactured nanomaterials in industrial applications and consumer products. It has instigated concerns about the sustainability, risks and uncertainties regarding the interactions of the nanomaterials with humans and the environment. Consequently, significant resources in Europe have been invested into tool and method development to support risk mitigation and management, facilitating the research and innovation process of manufactured nanomaterials. Extended risk analysis, including socio-economic impact and sustainability assessment is moving the conventional risk-based approach towards a wider safety-and-sustainability-by-design perspective. Despite growing tool and method developments, the level of awareness and use by stakeholders is still limited. Regulatory compliance and acceptance, reliability and trust, user-friendliness and compatibility with the users’ needs are important factors traditionally known to hinder their widespread use. Therefore, a framework is presented to quantify the readiness of different tools and methods towards their wider regulatory acceptance and downstream use by different stakeholders. The framework, developed within Gov4Nano, diagnoses barriers which hinder regulatory acceptance and wider usability of a tool/method based on their Transparency, Reliability, Accessibility, Applicability and Completeness (TRAAC framework). An online TRAAC tool is being developed within HARMLESS that will be freely available on https://diamonds.tno.nl/#traac. Fourteen tools and methods were assessed using the TRAAC framework as proof-of-concept. The results provide insights into any gaps, opportunities, and challenges in the context of each of the 5 pillars of the TRAAC framework.

The socio-economic impact assessment of biofuels production in South Africa: A rapid structured review of literature

Biofuels as a substitute for conventional aviation and motor vehicle fuels have received considerable global interest over the past decades mainly due to their perceived economic, social, and environmental benefits. Despite these economic benefits, most developing countries, including South Africa (SA), have yet to produce commercial biofuels. This study aims to inform South African policymakers. Prospective producers of biofuels about the potential socio-economic returns from producing biofuels at a commercial level through a structured rapid review of the literature differs from the peer-reviewed studies to date in South Africa, which focussed more on assessing the economic viability and environmental impacts of biofuels production. The systematic review methodology was used. About 48% of the published empirical studies reviewed integrated the socio-economic and environmental impact assessment, followed by studies that only examined the social impacts of biofuel (about 26%), about 15% of the studies examined economic impact only, and 11.54% examined the socio-economic impact. The results revealed that although the production of biofuels is associated with a positive socio-economic benefit, the biofuel industry is not viable without government support and the selling price of biofuel is not competitive relative to gasoline and petroleum alternatives. Lastly, the results revealed a need for more objective empirical studies in South Africa that can quantify the economy-wide implications of biofuels (especially second-generation biofuels) production. Only two (n = 2) of the 28 reviewed studies were conducted in South Africa from 28 studies reviewed. Both studies conducted in South Africa were feasibility studies focusing more on bioethanol; no study quantified the economy-wide impacts. The study recommends the implementation of the biofuels support mechanism by the government. Furthermore, amendments to the existing biofuels regulatory framework are recommended in order to support the production of advanced biofuels.

Environmental and Socio-economic Impact Assessment in Hazaribag Area of Dhaka for Tannery Relocation

Purpose of the study: The objective of this study is to find out the tannery relocation’s impact on the surrounding environment, social, economic, livelihood conditions, and institutional and stakeholder perception in Hazaribag. Methodology: The methodological framework includes a field survey and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, i.e., Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Key Informant Interview (KII). Main Findings: After the relocation, the surrounding environment, odour, and surface water condition have improved at a very satisfactory rate. Nevertheless, many tannery workers either become unemployed or transferred to their non-expertise field, and the economic and business condition of the area has decreased. Also, there are some conflicts between the owner and workers. After the relocation, the government has not properly managed the post-relocation situation in the brownfield. Research implications/limitations: The research findings will be helpful in planning the utilization of the brownfield. The study's limitations include reliance on respondents' perceptions and opinions and not conducting chemical analysis for water and environmental monitoring. Continuous monitoring of the change is needed to find the impact in the long run. Novelty/Originality of this study: Many studies were conducted on the impact of the Tannery in the Hazaribag area, and the Tannery was eventually relocated. The study fills a gap in the literature by presenting the scenario after the relocation to address the impact of relocation in Hazaribag, which is a significant observation for further development of the brownfield area.

Adsorption kinetics studies of ciprofloxacin in soils derived from volcanic materials by electrochemical approaches and assessment of socio-economic impact on human health.

The use of antibiotics in the livestock sector has resulted in the entry of these drugs into the soil matrix through the disposal of manure as an organic amendment. To define the fate of these drugs, it is necessary to evaluate kinetic aspects regarding transport in the soil-solution. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the adsorption kinetic parameters of Ciprofloxacin (CIPRO) in Ultisol and Andisol soil which allows obtaining main kinetic parameters (pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models) and to establish the solute transport mechanism by applying kinetic models such as the Elovich equation, Intraparticle diffusion (IPD) and, the Two-site non-equilibrium models (TSNE). The adsorption kinetics of this fluoroquinolone (FQ), on both soils derived from volcanic ashes, is developed using electrochemical techniques for their determination. The experimental amount of CIPRO adsorbed over time (Qt) data best fit with the pseudo-second order kinetic models; R2 = 0.9855, Ɛ = 10.17% and R2 = 0.9959, Ɛ = 10.77% for Ultisol and Andisol, respectively; and where CIPRO adsorption was considered time dependent for both soils but the lower adsorption capacity in Ultisol; with 17.6 ± 2.8 μmol g−1; which could mean a greater risk in environmental. Subsequently, applying models to describe solute transport mechanisms showed differences in the CIPRO adsorption extent for the fast and slow phases. Adsorption isotherms were evaluated, where Ultisol occurs on heterogenous sites as multilayers and Andisol by monolayer with similar Qmax. Finally, the socio-economic impact of antibiotic usage is presented, giving the importance of antibiotics in the livestock sector and their effects on human health.

Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact Assessment of Different Power-Sourced Drip Irrigation Systems in Punjab, Pakistan

This research investigated the best economically viable power source with the least environmental impact and socially acceptable for the maize crop. Maize is one of the key economic crops in Pakistan. Solar-, electric-, and diesel-powered drip irrigation systems (DIS) were considered for comparative study. We selected 45 sites of maize crop to collect the data, with an area of 1–3 ha, from three divisions. For economic viability, the benefit:cost ratio, life cycle cost, and payback period were calculated, and CO2 emissions were calculated to assess the environmental impact. The SPSS model was used for one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc and chi-squared tests to check the significance level between all power sources. It was found that the B-C of electric power, solar, and diesel drip irrigation systems was 1.65, 1.52, and 1.44, respectively. Solar, diesel, and electricity power DIS have CO2 emissions of 0.02, 0.730, and 1.106 tons/ha, respectively. The research concludes that solar power and electric power are the best sources for the environment and economically, respectively. It is recommended that solar power DIS be subsidized, which will help to lower CO2 emissions and reduce the electricity shortfall in Pakistan.

A review of the ecological and socioeconomic characteristics of trophy hunting across Asia

AbstractThe continuing debates about trophy hunting should be underpinned by an understanding of at least the basic characteristics of the practice (e.g. species, quotas, areas, prices). Whilst many countries in Asia have established trophy hunting programmes of considerable importance to conservation and local livelihoods, there remains some ambiguity over the extent of trophy hunting in Asia as its basic characteristics in each country have not been compiled. In this study, we compile information on various ecological and socioeconomic characteristics of trophy hunting of mammals for countries across Asia by reviewing published and unpublished literature, analysing trade data, and obtaining contributions from in‐country contacts. Across Asia, established trophy hunting programmes exist in at least 11 countries and target at least 30 species and one hybrid (incl., five Vulnerable and one Endangered species). Trophy hunting in these countries varies markedly in areas (e.g. >1 million km2 in Kazakhstan, 37% of country, vs. 1325 km2 in Nepal, <1% of country) and annual offtakes (e.g. Kazakhstan: 4500 individuals from 4 of 5 trophy species; Pakistan: 229 from 4 of 7; Mongolia: 155 from 6 of 9; Tajikistan: 126 from 3 of 6; Nepal: 22 from 3 of the 4 that are trophy hunted in practice). Permit prices also vary across species and countries, with domestic and international hunters sometimes charged different rates. Hunters from the USA appear overwhelmingly prominent among international clients. National legislations typically mandate a proportion of trophy hunting revenue to accrue locally (range: 40–100%). We provide five key recommendations for research to inform trophy hunting policy in Asia: (1) Ecological impact assessments; (2) Socioeconomic impact assessments; (3) Evaluations of the contributions of trophy hunting to conservation spending; (4) Evaluations of the contributions of trophy hunting to the post‐2020 Global Biodiversity Framework; (5) Further examinations of perceptions of trophy hunting.

Socioeconomic impact assessment during the stages of building and operating hydropower plants in the Legal Amazon Region

Hydropower plants (HPPs) play an important role in the Brazilian energy matrix, largely in the Amazon region where the largest amount of hydropower generation potential is found. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze socioeconomic impacts caused in the stages of building and operating a large HPP in the Legal Amazon region. For such a purpose, the socioeconomic impacts detected in environmental studies of five projects (Belo Monte, Jirau, Peixe Angical, São Manoel and São Salvador) were analyzed. Socioeconomic impacts were sorted out according to the stage of their life cycle (construction and operation); these impacts were compared using a matrix and a descriptive analysis of data. Many similarities and correlations between the socioeconomic impacts were found in five studies. During the analysis, it was found that numerous impacts were improperly mitigated in these studies. Furthermore, social costs, such as population relocation, are typically underestimated, and gains brought by operating the HPP are overestimated. It is expected that an assessment of socioeconomic impacts caused by HPP in the Legal Amazon is going to allow broadening discussions about these constructions in areas of socioenvironmental sensitivity. Moreover, it is found that socioeconomic impacts in assessed studies are associated with multiple conflicts between the population affected by the project, government, and enterprise.

The Future of Green Building Research – A Cascade Approach of Bibliometric Analysis and Topic Modelling

Green building research has received a lot of attention from both academicians and practitioners. Even though, this has resulted in a surge in Green Building literature in the recent times, the review of the literature has either being too focused on specific aspects or too broad. This study attempts to address this issue by employing a combination of bibliometric analysis and topic modelling. The inclusion of a stringent quality filter and use of CorEx topic modelling has enabled us to generate a list of future research directions, which were further streamlined through manual intervention. The study has revealed a few very promising few research directions including the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Green Building, Building Information System (BIM) for Green Building, development of sustainable materials and construction methods, socio-economic impact assessment of Green Buildings and incorporation of Internal Environmental Quality principles into built environment. The findings of the study are an integration of recommendations by many impactful studies in the Green Building literature and have tried to be a true testament to the idea that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’.

Industrial infrastructure and economic platform development for social and sustainable enterprise encouragement of cottage industries: case study of Bishnupur West Bengal

Indian rural cottage industries have been a significant income source for non-farming populace but have faced numerous problems related to collaboration of the state and business to pursue SDGs, including lack of facilitation of pro-active contribution of MSMEs towards sustainability through capacity building and strengthening of sustainability element to reach various possibilities of growth and management. Conceptualising the need for infrastructure development in the sector for involvement of both supply chain and community level through stakeholder identification is lacking. Bishnupur is encountering similar circumstances and thus losing artisans to urbanisation and negligible profit. They are not only economically dependent but also infrastructurally indigent. The research aims at analysing the economic involvement scale and sustainability of Bishnupur municipality's cottage industries through socio-economic impact assessment outlining problems, their covariance and regression to business principles as well as difference using ANOVA analysis; helping generate framework of policy and understand applicable ways to achieve SDGs.

Environmental and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Solid Waste Management Practices in Mbale city, Uganda

This study assessed the environmental and socio-economic impact of waste management practices in Mbale city. We used questionnaires, interviews, focused group discussions and field observations to collect the required data, which was analysed using basic descriptive statistics and Chi square test (χ2). Results indicate that, the solid waste management practices employed in Mbale City resulted into degradation of air quality (P<0.001), water quality (P<0.001) and land (P<0.101). Socio-economic analysis indicated that costs of waste management practices outweighed the benefits. The management practices were associated with severe health issues to the households living near dumpsites and waste management employees, although revenue and employment opportunities were also created in some instances in remote areas of the city there is limited sorting of hazardous from ordinary wastes that have come with associated effects on the environment. A conclusion was reached that, despite employing many citizens, the present solid waste management practices in Mbale City responsible for injuries incurred by scavengers (waste collectors), land and air quality degradation as citizens lack knowledge of proper waste management systems. Therefore, City authorities should sensitize the masses on best waste management practices like sorting and recycling and provide incentives for collection, sorting and assemblage of recyclable non-biodegradable wastes.