Approaches for the monetisation of social benefits accruing from rural road projects

Chaisukniphat, Chittanupong (2023). Approaches for the monetisation of social benefits accruing from rural road projects. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

People in remote areas in developing countries suffer without road access. Rural road infrastructure is a strategy to improve those people’s lives for the better. To achieve a road policy, the monetary value of social benefits needs to be included in road appraisal to help evaluate if road investment can contribute to the improvement of societal activities and the economy. However, social benefits can be considered as non-monetary value and may not be able to facilitate the appraisal directly. Therefore, there is a need to monetise the social benefits arising from rural road projects to apply for such an appraisal.
This study developed the social benefits framework for road appraisal and linked social impact assessment to economic measurement, economic valuation techniques and economic appraisal. Farmers’ revenue and better health were the social benefits that rural road projects were selected to monetise. The novel in-depth insight was that these social benefits were monetised for each type of road improvement. It was found that different types of standards of upgrades and maintenance can yield varying monetary social benefits, implying that monetary social benefits are valid for the appraisal by which the most appropriate road alternative can be justified. Moreover, monetary social benefits, when they were added to the appraisal, resulted in positive returns, implying that road infrastructure can maintain social activities in the long run.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):