How does economic impact analysis differ from fiscal impact analysis in planning?

• A. Economic impact analyzes project-level costs only
• B. Fiscal impact analyzes broader regional effects
• C. Economic impact analyzes broader regional effects (jobs, multipliers), while fiscal impact analyzes government budget implications
• D. They measure the same aspects in planning

Answer: (C)

In planning, the difference hinges on what each analysis is measuring. Economic impact analysis looks at the broader regional effects of a project—things like job creation, income changes, business activity, and the multipliers that show how spending circulates through the local economy, including indirect and induced effects. Fiscal impact analysis, on the other hand, focuses on government budget implications—how the project will affect public revenues and the costs of providing services, so you can judge whether it creates net demands or surpluses for local or state government. So the best answer captures that economic impact covers regional economic effects (jobs, multipliers), while fiscal impact concentrates on government budget implications.