My research interest is focused to define 'Social Value', the most intangible aspect of any architecture, built environment, and settlement.  

Currently, according to common practice in architecture, the design value of any architecture in the built environment is widely accepted to be the sum of environmental, economic, and social value. But we can question, argue, and debate with this definition in stating that ‘A whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’ While environmental value is generally measured in embodied and operational carbon (sometimes with the addition of biodiversity), there are several recognized methods for measuring economical value. Although architects often do not like to see themselves as an increment of economic gain, they create a huge amount of social value that they very often fail to record or capture. It is noteworthy that, though there are existing practices (albeit‑awed) for measuring economic and environmental value, there are no agreed measures of social value. Until this value is expressed in a format that can be fed into policy and procurement, it will remain invisible and ignored, leaving economic and environmental value as the sole dominant currency of built environment transactions.

Owing to this problem my research objective is to create a ‘Social Value Index’ for ensuring inclusive architecture.

The main fields of research of Jean-Philippe Meloche are urban economics, and local and regional economic development. He has a particular interest in topics such as real estate market and declining cities. His most recent research focuses on local public finances in Quebec. Jean-Philippe Meloche has published in several national and international journals including the Journal of Urban Affairs, the Canadian Journal of Regional Science, the Journal of Regional and Urban Economics [Revue d’économie régionale et urbaine] and Cahiers de Géographie du Québec. He is currently working on local public finance challenges of Montreal metropolitan region in a context of institutional reforms, with funding from Quebec found FRQ-SC. He has also realised several applied research mandates on urban economics topics at the CIRANO.