--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/should-economics-play-a-greater-role-in-the-adjudication-of-human-rights-claims-the-examples-of-injury-to-dignity-and-the-duty-to-accommodate/" title: "Should Economics Play a Greater Role in the Adjudication of Human Rights Claims? The Examples of Injury to Dignity and the Duty to Accommodate" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T10:22:48+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T10:22:48+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "adjudication" - "Canadian Human Rights" - "cost-benefit analysis" - "duty to accommodate" - "economics" - "human rights" - "injury to dignity" - "monetary awards" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Economic Well-Being" - "Fiscal Policy" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # Should Economics Play a Greater Role in the Adjudication of Human Rights Claims? The Examples of Injury to Dignity and the Duty to Accommodate Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/should-economics-play-a-greater-role-in-the-adjudication-of-human-rights-claims-the-examples-of-injury-to-dignity-and-the-duty-to-accommodate/ # Should Economics Play a Greater Role in the Adjudication of Human Rights Claims? The Examples of Injury to Dignity and the Duty to Accommodate [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2021-04-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Lewis, David, and Ian Currie. 2021. “Should Economics Play a Greater Role in the Adjudication of Human Rights Claims? The Examples of Injury to Dignity and the Duty to Accommodate.” CSLS Research Report 2021-04. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/should-economics-play-a-greater-role-in-the-adjudication-of-human-rights-claims-the-examples-of-injury-to-dignity-and-the-duty-to-accommodate/ ## Authors: - David Lewis Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Ian Currie Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2021-04 August 2021 52 pages ## Related research [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver March 2016 | Report 2016-03 | 132 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy-2016-03/) [A New Role for Cost-Benefit Analysis in Canadian Transportation Infrastructure Investment David Lewis, Ian Currie March 2016 | Report 2016-02 | 56 pages](https://csls.ca/research/a-new-role-for-cost-benefit-analysis-in-canadian-transportation-infrastructure-investment/) [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver August 2015 | Report 2015-ccfb | 133 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy/) [Impact of the Model Schools Literacy Project and Fiscal Outcomes in First Nations in Canada Simon Lapointe January 2021 | Report 2021-01 | 58 pages](https://csls.ca/research/impact-of-the-model-schools-literacy-project-and-fiscal-outcomes-in-first-nations-in-canada/) [Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing Andrew Sharpe, Christopher Ross November 2011 | Report 2011-17 | 124 pages](https://csls.ca/research/living-standards-domain-of-the-canadian-index-of-wellbeing-2011-17/) [A Survey of Indicators of Economic and Social Well-being Andrew Sharpe July 1999 | Report 1999-cprn | 72 pages](https://csls.ca/research/a-survey-of-indicators-of-economic-and-social-well-being/) [The Canada-U.S. Income Gap Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2000 | Report 2000-01 | 6 pages](https://csls.ca/research/the-canada-u-s-income-gap/) [Creating a More Efficient Labour Market Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2001 | Report 2001-02 | 147 pages](https://csls.ca/research/creating-a-more-efficient-labour-market/) [The Impact of the National Child Benefit Supplement on the Low Income Status of Canadian Families with Children: The SPSD/M Results Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2002 | Report 2002-01 | 59 pages](https://csls.ca/research/the-impact-of-the-national-child-benefit-supplement-on-the-low-income-status-of-canadian-families-with-children-the-spsd-m-results/) [Raising Canadian Living Standards: A Framework for Discussion Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) October 2002 | Report 2002-td | 56 pages](https://csls.ca/research/raising-canadian-living-standards-a-framework-for-discussion/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn This paper examines whether economic analysis can help provide firmer foundations for the adjudication of human rights claims in establishing monetary awards for injury to dignity and, in accommodation cases, better capturing benefits for society. In relation to injury to dignity, it explores the prospects for establishing an objective evidentiary baseline through a program of independent economic research. In the area of accommodation, the paper considers if the wider use of Cost-Benefit Analysis could help prevent undervaluation of accommodation and whether governments should help cover the incremental cost of accommodation in some cases. Cet article examine si l’analyse économique peut aider à établir des fondements plus solides pour l’arbitrage des plaintes relatives aux droits de la personne, en ce qui concerne l’établissement d’indemnités pécuniaires pour atteinte à la dignité et, dans les cas d’accommodement, une meilleure prise en compte des avantages pour la société. En ce qui concerne l’atteinte à la dignité, l’article explore les perspectives d’établissement d’une base de preuve objective grâce à un programme de recherche économique indépendante. Dans le domaine de l’accommodement, l’article examine si un recours plus large à l’analyse coûts-avantages pourrait contribuer à prévenir la sous-évaluation des mesures d’accommodement, et si les gouvernements devraient contribuer à couvrir le coût marginal de l’accommodement dans certains cas. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2021-04-1.pdf)