Cost-Benefit Analysis

A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a systematic approach to evaluating the costs and benefits of a project, decision, or policy. It is used to determine whether the benefits of the project outweigh the costs, and to compare different projects or policies.

CBA is a type of decision analysis, which is a systematic process for making decisions in the face of uncertainty. CBA is often used in government and business to evaluate public policy proposals and to make investment decisions.

The steps in a CBA are:

1. Identify the project or policy to be evaluated. 2. Identify the costs and benefits of the project or policy. 3. Quantify the costs and benefits in monetary terms. 4. Compare the costs and benefits to determine whether the project or policy is worthwhile.

The costs of a project or policy can include:

• The initial investment cost
• The operating costs
• The maintenance costs
• The opportunity costs

The benefits of a project or policy can include:

• The economic benefits
• The social benefits
• The environmental benefits

CBA is a valuable tool for making decisions in the face of uncertainty. However, it is important to note that CBA is not perfect. There are a number of limitations to CBA, including:

• The difficulty of quantifying costs and benefits in monetary terms.
• The uncertainty about the future benefits and costs of a project or policy.
• The subjective nature of some costs and benefits.

Despite these limitations, CBA is a valuable tool for making informed decisions.