Table 1.

Examples of Sub-objectives and Correspondent Analytical/Research Questions for Key Steps in Regulatory Impact Analysis.

Activity	Equity Sub-Objective	Equity-focused Analytical/Research Question(s)
Define the problem—identify determinants, describe scope and scale of problem, identify populations most affected, estimate baseline scenario	Identify inequalities in EH outcomes (e.g., exposure to source and/or hazard and related risks) from all sources. Identify inequalities in EH outcomes related to the regulated source or hazard, or regulatory action. Identify determinants and causal factors for inequalities in EH outcomes that can be remedied via the proposed regulatory action.	Do minority and low income populations experience higher risks of disease conditions associated with exposure(s) in question? Are minority and low income populations more proximate to regulated sources in question? How are EH outcomes distributed in the baseline scenario across social groups? What is the nature and magnitude of observed racial/ethnic and income inequalities in the baseline distribution of EH outcomes? What are identified risk factors /determinants of EH outcomes in the literature? Which determinants are directly or indirectly remediable within the regulatory structure for the proposed regulation?
Identify regulatory options	Identify options that yield maximum benefit in terms of aggregate improvements in social welfare and decrements in racial/ethnic and income inequalities. Identify options that do not cause social group inequalities in EH outcomes.	What level of reduction in pollutant concentrations in ambient media reduce social group inequalities and also yield desirable benefits for the population? What are the proposed mechanisms through which an option address one or more causes or determinants of social group inequalities in EH outcomes?
Assessment—risks, benefits, costs related to identified options	Describe how each option is predicted to change identified baseline social group inequalities in EH outcomes.	What is the change in estimated baseline racial/ethnic and income inequalities in EH outcomes (e.g., risk) given implementation of a specific option? Given a decrease in inequality in risk from baseline conditions, what is the magnitude of the observed decrease? Is the decrease meaningful? How does the decrease occur? How are health benefits distributed across social groups?
Develop and evaluate compliance, monitoring and enforcement strategies	Describe how the costs of implementing each option are distributed across income groups. Identify compliance, enforcement and monitoring strategies for the selected option that deter behavior or activities that promote social group inequalities.	How are implementation costs distributed across income groups? Are compliance costs across distributed unequally across income groups Are the inequalities significant and a potential hindrance to attaining desired objectives of regulation (e.g., health protection, reduction in inequality in EH outcomes)? Do compliance strategies target applicable identified causes/determinants of social group inequalities? Can compliance strategies deter identified behavior of the regulated entity that promotes social group inequalities?