Exploring social consequences of transport policy: a framework and case study on economically equitable electric mobility

Alongside economic cost–benefit evaluations conducted prior to policy implementation, the assessment of the social impacts of proposed policies is gaining attention. Social Life Cycle Impact Assessment (S-LCIA) methods, currently under development, are emerging as potential tools for evaluating the social impacts of products and services. To address the need for assessing the social impact of transport policies, this paper operationalises S–LCIA impact–pathway thinking by proposing a framework as a replicable sequence of steps—from stakeholder and local inventory data collection to pathway development and a simple risk screening step—for comparing policy alternatives, and applies it to decision-making in a case study within the mobility context at the city level. The case study examines potential local policies to address existing economic inequity in access to electric mobility among different social groups. We develop cause–effect chains for two potential local policies in a Finnish city, screen the risks associated with them, and propose possible actions to prevent unintended consequences. Our results show how the adopted approach can serve as a method for assessing and comparing the social impacts of policy options and aiding decision-making at the city level. By evaluating social impacts prior to policy implementation, decision-makers can achieve better outcomes in various aspects of societal well-being, supporting the ultimate goal of protecting and improving quality of life.