Disjunction between policy research and practice: Social benefit-cost analysis and investment policy at the World Bank

1988 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 77-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel H. Leff
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Social Benefit ◽  
Investment Policy ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
The World ◽  
Benefit Cost

scholarly journals Benefit–Cost Analysis of an Innovative Program for Self-Sufficiency and Homeownership

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 3-40
Author(s):  
George C. Galster ◽  
Anna Maria Santiago ◽  
Richard J. Smith ◽  
Joffre Leroux
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Home Ownership ◽  
Social Benefit ◽  
Model Specification ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Housing Subsidy ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Net Benefits ◽  
Benefit Cost

Background: Federal policy has increasingly sought to build financial capability, earnings, and assets of subsidized housing recipients. Objective: We conduct a benefit–cost analysis of the Denver Housing Authority’s (DHA) innovative Home Ownership Program (HOP), which incentivizes participants to increase earnings, build wealth, and purchase homes. Research design, subjects, and measures: In assessing HOP participant benefits (earnings, home-buying, and positive exits from DHA), we use parameter estimates from quasi-experimental methods (i.e., propensity score matching) that permit drawing causal inferences of program impacts. Impact estimates are robust to alternate model specification and mostly insensitive to omitted variable bias found in the social sciences. We deploy a comprehensive accounting framework, distinguishing benefits and costs accruing to program participants, nonparticipants (other citizens, taxpayers, and governments), and society as a whole. We use Monte Carlo simulation techniques to approximate distributions of benefit and cost parameters, thereby ascertaining how reliably participation in HOP yielded net benefits compared to if families had continued to receive housing assistance during the same period. Results: We estimate a net social benefit from HOP of US$6,015 per participant. The simulated standard deviation was only a third of this value and 99.9% of simulations returned positive net social benefits. Conclusion: We conclude with a high degree of statistical confidence that HOP produced substantial net benefits to society as a whole, program participants, and nonparticipants alike. HOP offers strong potential for poverty alleviation among housing subsidy recipients and should be replicated.

scholarly journals A Benefit-Cost Analysis of Private and Semi-Private Hospital Rooms

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony E. Boardman ◽  
Diane Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Private Hospital ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
Social Benefit ◽  
Hospital Inpatient ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Improve Patient

The design of new hospital inpatient rooms is moving towards private (single occupancy) rooms. These rooms are generally preferred by patients and they may improve patient care, but they are more expensive to build and to staff than semi-private rooms. The question of their societal worth is important because hospitals are expensive, long-term investments and, once built, are prohibitively expensive to change. This paper presents a benefit-cost analysis of private rooms versus semi-private rooms in a proposed new hospital. We estimate that the net social benefit of a bed in a private room is about $70,000 more than a bed in a semi-private room.

Evaluating Regulatory Impact Assessments in Education Policy

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-353
Author(s):  
Clive R. Belfield ◽  
A. Brooks Bowden ◽  
Viviana Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Federal Government ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Social Benefit ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Regulatory Decision ◽  
Regulatory Impact ◽  
Benefit Cost

Benefit–cost analysis is an important part of regulatory decision-making, yet there are questions as to how often and how well it is performed. Here we examine 28 Regulatory Impact Assessments performed by the federal government on education regulations since 2006. We find many Regulatory Impact Assessments estimated costs, albeit using informal methods, but most failed to adequately report benefits. Also, most studies did not estimate net present value or clearly report methodological assumptions. In reviewing the relatively high quality studies we identified a number of discrepancies from best practice. Most importantly, few Regulatory Impact Assessments attempted a social benefit–cost analysis: Most examined “administrative burdens” from compliance with legislation. This alternative focus on administrative burdens has significant implications for economic evaluation in practice.

A Social Benefit Cost Analysis of Special Economic Zones in India: A Study of Noida SEZ

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 139-153
Author(s):  
Babita ◽  
N. K. Bishnoi
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Social Benefit ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Special Economic Zones ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Indian Economy ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Economic Zones

Special economic zones (SEZs) in India have been in news due to their usefulness vis-à-vis adverse effects on economy. A good number of opponents opine that costs incurred by SEZs outweigh the benefits. However, it cannot be denied that SEZs have played a positive role in the welfare of the economy. Thus, to examine this issue, we carried out a social benefit–cost analysis (SBCA) on Noida Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) within the context of enclave model for the period of 2009–2016. The result shows the positive net present value and benefit–cost ratio greater than one under methodological assumptions. This infers that NSEZ is contributing towards the welfare of Indian economy. One interesting findings of the study is that NSEZ is generating positive gains to economy with the absence of various market distortions which could otherwise reduce the realised benefits. Hence, need arises to eliminate such distortions from outside area of economy also to make it competitive at global level. Therefore, it can be concluded that competitiveness of the Indian economy can be enhanced with the removal of market distortions and liberalisation of rules, regulation and policies for economic development activities. Hence, the Government of India should emphasise and make regulations and policies that encourage competitiveness of the industries. JEL Classification: D04, D61, F13, H2, J01

Benefit-Cost Analysis in the States: Status, Impact, and Challenges

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darcy White ◽  
Gary VanLandingham
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Cost Analysis ◽  
District Of Columbia ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Policy Choices ◽  
Data Limitations ◽  
Technical Features ◽  
Benefit Cost

Although there is growing interest in applying benefit-cost analysis (BCA) to public policy questions, limited information is available on states’ use of this methodology. The nationwide assessment presented here begins to fill that void and finds that states and the District of Columbia are increasingly conducting BCAs and using the results to inform their policy choices. The numbers of reports released by the states and statutory mandates to conduct these studies increased substantially between 2008 and 2011. An analysis of the studies released by states shows that most lack some recommended technical features of rigorous BCA, but the reports are having a reported impact on state policy and budget decisions. Like other forms of policy research, BCA faces challenges including resource and data limitations, timing problems, and gaining policymaker buy-in for the approach and findings.

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