Integrating Scientific, Social, and Economic Factors

If the consequences of setting a standard will have important environmental, economic, or social consequences, we envisage an approach in which a social and economic analysis forms part of the overall decision in conjunction with the scientific analysis. The two activities come together in an MCDA that seeks to integrate all the factors that will deliver the required level of environmental protection at an acceptable economic and social cost. If that cost can be defined during problem formulation, this will greatly facilitate the process because it puts limits on what is, and is not, permissible. 

In its early stages, the process might show that a particular standard simply cannot be achieved, for example, because there are too few data, it is too expensive to implement or monitor, or it becomes clear that a certain typology is likely to be ineffective. This could force a return to the initial specification for the standard. 

Assuming we are able to proceed, we need to understand the following  

1) The relationship between the magnitude of a standard and biological impact 

2) The relationship between other implementation aspects of a standard (e.g., acceptable degree of failure and statistical confidence in demonstration of compliance) and biological impact 

---