URBAN-ECON provides a variety of economic specialist inputs for other disciplines due to the importance of the economy and market indicators as determining factors in the development milieu.

Focus

Urban-Econ is usually approached to provide socio-economic and economic inputs for EIAs and as such need to adhere to the guidelines for compiling economic specialist studies. In many instances primary research needs to be undertaken to determine the direct effects on the affected parties. The outcome of this process is inputs into EIA documentation and provides interested and affected parties with an overview of the socio-economic benefits and disbenefits, an indication of any imbalances as well as possible mitigation measures.

Approach

Economic modelling techniques, such as the multiplier analysis, are usually applied in determining the impacts of proposed projects and investments. The results of the analysis are utilised in motivating the project to all levels of government. A change in the local economy can be effectively simulated by the Input-Output technique to identify and quantify various impacts of such a change in regional and national context.

Economic impacts refer to the effects on the level of economic activity in a given area, as result of some form of external intervention in the economy in the form of new investment in for example, transport facilities, social developments, housing, business development, etc. The effects are viewed in terms of:

The following impacts can usually be quantified:

• Direct impact
• Indirect impact
• Induced impacts