Social economic assessment of coastal area industrial development: An application of input–output model to oyster farming in Taiwan

This research is conducted to help newly economically developed countries identify the influences of multiple-use conflicts in coastal-zone policy-making, such as social (i.e. unemployment), and other economic (i.e. revenue) or ecological impacts. Taking Taiwan as an example, the study examined the inter-industrial linkages of oyster farming and the other industries in conflict and the impacts or values underlying policy-making on ecological advocacy and socio-economic development. put–output (IO) model was applied to analyze inter-industrial linkages of sectors which have strong conflicts in coastal areas. The employment data was integrated into the physical IO model to assess the social and economic impacts of proposed industrial projects. The results indicate that adopting the aggregate multiplier of the fisheries sector to assess unemployment related to a decrease in the oyster farming output would seriously underestimate its impact. From an economic perspective, oyster farming shows a relatively low industrial linkage effect. From an environmental and social perspective, this industry provides important ecological benefits and employment effects. It is suggested that policy-makers may know that the traditional coastal aqua-cultural industry does not generate as much revenue as a new large-scale industry, but disregarding the ecological and social impacts of aquaculture would not be a sensible decision.