social costs

USAGE SUMMARY

"social costs" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to any economic costs that are borne by a society as a whole and not just one individual or entity, such as the costs of poverty, crime, or environmental damage. For example, "The social costs of inadequate healthcare are immense."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then there are ancillary social costs.

The Economist

And there are broader social costs.

The Economist

There are other social costs.

The New York Times - Magazine

I mean the social costs.

The Guardian - Opinion

"There are enormous social costs".

The New York Times

What about the social costs?

The Washington Post

What are the social costs of eviction?

The Guardian - Books

The emotional and social costs are inestimable.

The New York Times - Health

We don't know the social costs".

The New York Times

Yet the social costs are considerable.

The Guardian - Books

The social costs are the real problem.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "social costs", clearly define the specific impacts being considered, such as environmental damage, health issues, or decreased quality of life, to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid focusing solely on direct financial costs. "Social costs" often include harder-to-quantify factors like reduced social cohesion or long-term health consequences. Consider all potential ramifications for a comprehensive assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "social costs" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes the expenses or negative consequences borne by a community or society due to a particular action or situation. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "social costs" is a versatile and commonly used noun phrase referring to the negative consequences a decision or action has on a community or society. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used in written English. Its primary function is to identify and quantify these impacts, often in discussions around economics, public policy, and ethics. While versatile in register, it leans toward neutral and formal settings and is particularly frequent in the "News & Media", "Academia", and "Science" contexts. Remember to define the impacts and look past the direct costs. Consider also other alternatives like "societal costs", "community costs", "public costs" or "external costs". With all this in mind, "social costs" is a powerful tool to enrich discussions on this topic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

societal costs

Emphasizes the costs borne by society as a whole, often used interchangeably but can imply a broader scope.

costs to society

A more descriptive way of saying "social costs", emphasizing the recipient of the cost.

community costs

Focuses on the costs impacting a specific community rather than society at large.

public costs

Highlights costs that are the responsibility of the public or government.

social consequences

Highlights the results or outcomes of actions that affect society negatively.

external costs

Refers to costs not reflected in the market price, often borne by third parties or society.

aggregate social costs

Emphasizes the total or combined costs to society.

societal burdens

Emphasizes the negative impact and weight of these costs on society.

detrimental social impacts

Focuses on the negative effects on social structures and well-being.

economic externalities

A more technical term referring to costs or benefits not included in the price of a good or service.

FAQs

How can I use "social costs" in a sentence?

You can use "social costs" to describe the negative impacts of a decision or action on society, for example: "The "social costs" of pollution include health problems and environmental damage."

What is a simple way to define "social costs"?

"Social costs" are the expenses or detriments that affect society as a whole, rather than just individuals or businesses. They often include things like environmental degradation, increased crime, or public health issues.

Are "societal costs" and "social costs" the same?

While very similar, "societal costs" and "social costs" are often used interchangeably. "Societal costs" might imply a slightly broader scope, encompassing all costs affecting society, whereas "social costs" can sometimes refer more specifically to impacts on social structures and relationships. Consider also using "community costs", "public costs", "external costs", and "costs to society".

What are some examples of "social costs"?

Examples of "social costs" include the costs associated with increased crime rates, pollution-related health problems, the erosion of social trust, and the loss of cultural heritage. Another good alternative is to use "economic externalities".