Environmental Policy under Reagan's Executive Order: The Role of Benefit-Cost Analysis

1985 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 472
Author(s):  
E. Donald Elliott ◽  
V. Kerry Smith
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Policy ◽  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Executive Order ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost

Accounting for the Distribution of Benefits and Costs in Benefit–Cost Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
James K. Hammitt
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Policy Choice ◽  
Alternative Evaluation ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Transfer Programs ◽  
Net Benefits ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Benefits And Costs

Abstract Benefit–cost analysis (BCA) is often viewed as measuring the efficiency of a policy independent of the distribution of its consequences. The role of distributional effects on policy choice is disputed; either: (a) the policy that maximizes net benefits should be selected and distributional concerns should be addressed through other measures, such as tax and transfer programs or (b) BCA should be supplemented with distributional analysis and decision-makers should weigh efficiency and distribution in policy choice. The separation of efficiency and distribution is misleading. The measure of efficiency depends on the numéraire chosen for the analysis, whether monetary values or some other good (unless individuals have the same rates of substitution between them). The choice of numéraire is not neutral; it can affect the ranking of policies by calculated net benefits. Alternative evaluation methods, such as BCA using a different numéraire, weighted BCA, or a social welfare function (SWF), may better integrate concerns about distribution and efficiency. The most appropriate numéraire, distributional weights, or SWFs cannot be measured or statistically estimated; it is a normative choice.

scholarly journals Thirty Years of Economics at the Environmental Protection Agency

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 436-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Al McGartland
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Policy ◽  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Policy Process ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Clean Air ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Over Time

When the modern era of environmental policy began with creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and passage of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, economists and economics were little used. Over time, economics became a major contributor to formation of environmental policy. Executive Order 12291 pushed economics into the policy process but also rendered benefit-cost analysis controversial. I report on economics’ role in the policy process over time and examine contributions by economists to environmental policymaking. Advancing benefit-cost analysis is an obvious contribution. I describe other areas in which economists have contributed and highlight milestones for economics at EPA.

A Statistical Analysis of the Role of Benefit–Cost Analysis in Awarding TIGER Grants

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony C. Homan ◽  
Teresa M. Adams ◽  
Alex J. Marach
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost

High-Speed Rail in Portugal

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
David Besanko ◽  
João Tenreiro Gonçalves
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Polio Eradication ◽  
Global Public Good ◽  
List Type ◽  
High Speed Rail ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Development And Management

Rede Alta Velocidade, SA (RAVE), the state-owned company responsible for planning and developing a major high-speed rail project in Portugal, must persuade both public officials and lenders that the project is worth undertaking. It must also make a recommendation on the appropriate organizational form for the enterprise. Specifically, it must determine the role of the Portuguese government in financing and operating the high-speed rail network, with options ranging from full development and management of the project by the public sector to completely private development and management. Lying in between these two polar cases were a variety of hybrid models, often referred to as public-private partnerships (PPPs). Using data in the case, students have the opportunity to perform a benefit-cost analysis of the project. They also must think carefully about the optimal role of the government in a major new infrastructure project.After analyzing and discussing the case, students will be able to: Understand the nature of a global public good Perform a back-of-the-envelope benefit-cost analysis of polio eradication Discuss the appropriate strategy for eradicating an infectious disease Apply game theory to analyzing which countries would be likely to contribute funds toward global polio eradication Discuss the role of private organizations in the provision of global public goods

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