Coastal management and instruments for economic evaluation

Abstract

In recent years, policymakers have tended to strive increasingly for integrated impact assessment of decisions in coastal management. This document contains a case study analysis with lessons on the selection and use of economic evaluation methods. This document aims at supporting policymakers who have no or little economic background to globally understand and select the appropriate evaluation method for assessing the economic impact of coastal projects. This document starts in chapter II with an overview of the case studies and a short description of the used economic evaluation methods. Chapter III will help to select the appropriate economic evaluation method to assess the economic challenges regarding a coastal project. It does so by leading the reader through 5 key questions that should be answered to make a selection. The key questions are drawn up on the basis of literature, analysis of the Messina case-studies and our experience in other projects. Using theory and the experience from the selected cases we will attempt to give an overview in chapter IV of the arguments that are to be used to select a method for two coastal projects that are actually being carried out in the Netherlands. The annexes contain further information on the economic methods (Annex 1 – 4) and the analysed cases (Annex 5). Annex 6 has a list of references that points the interested reader towards further information.