Lagging Social Impact Assessment for Public Project Management in China: Inappropriate Method or Lack of Interest

With the growing attention to the performance evaluation of public projects, social impact assessment (SIA) becomes a common concern under the Scientific Development concepts. While social analysis has been developed and utilized widely in the western developed countries, its practice in China is lagging behind its fast economical growth. By comparing the characteristics of public projects to private projects, we analyze the necessity as well as difficulties of the SIA in China. It is because of insufficient resources, inappropriate methods and lack of interests that the SIA has not yet been an integrated part of project management both for the feasibility research and for project implementation and performance evaluation. Efforts should be concentrated on finding appropriate indicators and management system of SIA to guarantee the sustainable and harmonious development of China.