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Natural Treatment Systems and Importance of Social Cost Benefit Analysis in Developing Countries: A Critical Review

Author

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  • Indranil De

    (Institute of Rural Management Anand, Anand 388001, Gujarat, India)

  • Rooba Hasan

    (Independent Researcher, Anand 388001, Gujarat, India)

  • Mubashshir Iqbal

    (Independent Researcher, Anand 388001, Gujarat, India)

Abstract

This review article attempts to analyse the social issues that impact the performance of natural treatment systems (NTSs). An NTS is a decentralised wastewater treatment system found to be appropriate in developing countries due to its affordability and lower technicity. However, if socio-economic and institutional issues of community are ignored then NTSs may turn out to be unsuitable for developing countries. The article also takes a critical view on the extant literature which ignores the social cost of NTSs. The social cost of NTSs may be high as a decentralised system requires the engagement of various governmental agencies, research institutes and the community. The cost of engagement may make NTSs a socio-economically unattractive proposition. The article discusses the variables to be considered for the social cost-benefit analysis. It also discusses the implications of social cost-benefit analysis for appreciating the incentives and net benefits for collective actions at the community level. Social cost-benefit analysis can help overcome the initial difficulty of high financial cost and usher sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Indranil De & Rooba Hasan & Mubashshir Iqbal, 2022. "Natural Treatment Systems and Importance of Social Cost Benefit Analysis in Developing Countries: A Critical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:7:p:3913-:d:779965
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    References listed on IDEAS

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