The experience of highly industrialized countries demonstrates that single-minded pursuit of economic develop ment is self-defeating because, by disregarding the other components of what is cxmnonly called "the quality of life," it creates conditions which are not acceptable to large sectors of the population. In the recent past a number of projects, for example, major darns, have had unexpectedly deleterious social, envir onmental and health consequences. As a result, many govern ment department and agencies are investigating the impacts of specific projects and are examining the role impact...