Impacts for whom? Assessing inequalities in NSF-funded broader impacts using the Inclusion-Immediacy Criterion

Abstract Broader impacts (BI) policies generate debate on the purpose of science, measuring impact research, and is an important topic for science policy community. However, BI often fail to determine if R&D funding helps marginalized communities. This paper introduces a new framework, Inclusion-Immediacy Criterion, that assesses who benefits from research as divided into three groups: (1) advantaged groups; (2) general population; (3) groups. The study analyzes National Science Foundation (NSF) project outcome reports finds groups are most likely benefit NSF-funded research. also shows certain areas NSF such Social, Behavioral, Economic Sciences, more efficiently compared other directorates. further argues persistent inequalities in BIs limit potential increase prosperity well-being, two NSF’s mandated goals.