Social integration is a highly desirable outcome that reflects the existence of social cohesion, a strong institutional foundation and a culture of acceptance. Societies are better off if they promote social integration through inclusive policies that reduce economic inequality and poverty, and promote sustainable and equitable development.

Because of its qualitative nature, social integration can be proxied by using variables that capture and measure how much social integration exists in a community at any given time. Identifying these indicators can be tricky and it may entail using quantitative and qualitative data. Many development practitioners and policy makers center attention on the creation of economic opportunities as the material basis for social integration. In this way, there is often a tendency to underscore economic goals and make them uniquely critical.