Photo credit: Thomas Hawk
There are many things we value that cannot be easily captured in traditional economic terms. Conventional cost-benefit analysis does not consider anything beyond simple costs and price, which is why we have developed alternative tools to measure social and environmental impacts. Social Return on Investment is an analytic tool for measuring and accounting for a much broader concept of value, taking into account social, economic and environmental factors.
Key Facts
- £1 invested in high-quality residential care for children generates a social return of between £4 and £6.10.
- £1 invested in alternative, non-prison based sentencing for women offenders generates a social return of £14.
Featured Work
Publication // December 14, 2009
A Bit Rich
Pay matters. How much you earn can determine your lifestyle, where you can afford to live, and your aspirations and status. But to what extent does what we get paid confer ‘worth’? Beyond a narrow notion of productivity, what impact does our work have on the rest of society, and do the financial rewards we receive correspond to this? Do those that get more contribute more to society? With controversial bonuses being paid out this Christmas in bailed-out banks, we believe that it is time to ask challenging questions such as these.
Introduction
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