Title: Developing Models to Assess the Social Impact of Mining
Author/Institution: A. Rey-Martí, University of Valencia / Associated Research Group
Publication Year: 2023
Understanding Mining’s Social Consequences Beyond Economics
Rey-Martí’s research provides a rigorous and systematic attempt to quantify and model the social consequences of mining activities, an issue that has long been overshadowed by the sector’s economic contributions. Drawing on cases from Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia, the study argues that traditional impact assessments often overemphasize economic output while neglecting critical dimensions such as community well-being, distributive equity, institutional trust, and environmental perception. By synthesizing empirical observations with multi-criteria evaluation tools, the research builds a framework capable of capturing how mining alters daily life—shaping access to services, security, cohesion, and the social dynamics between companies, governments, and local populations.
Modelling Social Complexity in Resource-Dependent Territories
Methodologically, the study blends qualitative fieldwork with quantitative modelling techniques, integrating indicators that track livelihoods, conflict emergence, perceived fairness, and the quality of community–company relationships. Rey-Martí demonstrates that social impacts cannot be treated as static; they evolve as projects advance from exploration to closure, and as expectations—both met and unmet—interact with local political dynamics. The model accounts for feedback loops where small grievances can escalate into broader mobilization, revealing how legitimacy, transparency, and benefit distribution become central variables in determining a project’s stability. This approach provides a more realistic understanding of why similar mining operations succeed in some regions but trigger resistance in others.
Implications for Responsible Mining and the Future of License to Operate
The study’s findings carry direct implications for global debates on responsible mining and the durability of the License to Operate. Rey-Martí argues that companies and regulators must shift from compliance-driven assessments to relational and anticipatory models that monitor social indicators with the same rigor applied to geological or financial metrics. In an era defined by the energy transition and rising demand for critical minerals, communities and stakeholders expect greater transparency, shared value, and meaningful participation. By offering a replicable framework for identifying social risks early—and quantifying how they affect long-term project viability, the research provides a vital tool for governments, investors, and mining companies seeking to operate with legitimacy in increasingly contested territories.