Lastkompensation

Lastkompensation is a policy concept referring to measures that compensate individuals or communities for burdens resulting from a policy, project, or regulation. Its purpose is to promote fairness, maintain social acceptance, and reduce opposition by offsetting adverse effects rather than solely reducing or avoiding them through design changes. In practice, determining lastkompensation involves evaluating who bears the burden, how large it is, and what funds are available.

Compensation can take multiple forms, including direct cash payments, tax relief, subsidies, the provision of in-kind services, or investments in local development. Eligibility criteria typically consider residence or property affected, degree of exposure to the burden, and sometimes participation in the policy process. Implementation usually requires governance arrangements such as clear rules, budgeting, transparency, and monitoring to ensure accountability and prevent misuse.

Lastkompensation is used in various sectors, notably in infrastructure planning, environmental regulation, energy policy, and urban development. It is distinct from mitigation or prevention measures, which aim to reduce burdens, whereas lastkompensation focuses on remedying burdens after they arise or become evident. Critics point to administrative costs, potential moral hazard, and the risk that compensation may reduce incentives to minimize burdens.

Related concepts include general compensation mechanisms in public policy, burden-sharing approaches, and processes that obtain a social license to operate. In German-speaking regions, related terms such as Ausgleichszahlungen or Ausgleichsmaßnahmen are often discussed alongside lastkompensation as tools to balance competing interests in development and regulation.