This book explores the history of social impact measurement, offering justifications for the use of social impact measurement in modern society. It seeks to uncover the tensions inherent in social impact measurement, especially between creating and measuring social value creation. As the world becomes ever more globalised in its focus to deliver sustainable solutions to social and environmental problems, frameworks such as the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide basic structure through which social impact can be assessed and compared globally. Nevertheless, constructive critiques of such approaches are required to ensure that they do not misinform stakeholders, disenfranchise the disadvantaged and exacerbate existing social problems. In providing this overview, the book seeks to offer a critical review of the social impact measurement field centred on concepts of 'empowerment' and 'social action' (Weber, 1978), whilst also demonstrating best practice and potential pitfalls to policymakers and practitioners.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Section I: The How, What, Why and Whom of Social Impact Measurement.- Chapter 2: The Development of Social Impact Measurement
Chapter 3: Placing People at the Centre of Social Impact Measurement: Current Approaches, Challenges, and Future Directions
Chapter 4: Why and What to Measure? The Justification for Social Impact Measurement
Section II: Agency, Expertise and Partnerships
Chapter 5: Impact and Gender: Agency and Capability in Empowering Women in Kenya
Chapter 6: Competing Discourses of Impact Measurement: Insights from the Field of Impact Investment
Chapter 7: Putting Stakeholders at the Centre: Multi-Stakeholder Approaches to Social Impact Measurement
Section III: Politics and Public Good
Chapter 8: The Politics of Social Impact Measurement in Indonesia
Chapter 9: Social impact Measurement in Public Service Delivery in the Age of Austerity: The Case of Community Libraries in Vietnam
Chapter 10: Classification of Social Impact Assessment Models in South Korea
Chapter 11: Monetising Social Impact: A Critique of the 'Financialisation' of Social Value
Chapter 12: Measuring Outcomes in Social Care
Section IV: Power, Accountability and Ethics
Chapter 13: Enhancing Impact Materiality: Lessons from Evidenced-Based Policy Making
Chapter 14: Mapping SDGs in Sub-Saharan Africa: Highlighting System Effects
Chapter 15: Ethical Issues with Social Impact Measurement
Chapter 16: Impact in the Twenty-First Century: Utilising Measurement to Empower the Disadvantaged.