Social impact assessment: a look at Finnish experiences

A case-analysis framework for the evaluation of social impact assessments (SIA) is presented and used to analyse Finnish impact assessments. As a result of the analyses of case studies in land-use and road planning, it wasfound that impact assessment results seldom make a difference in decision-making. Conflict mediation is underdeveloped with most differences being resolved in favour of the proponent It is concluded that the future of Finnish SIA is dependent on both methodological development and overcoming traditional planning procedures.