Using Environmental Benefit-Cost Analysis to Improve Government Performance
| dc.creator | Farrow, Scott | |
| dc.creator | Toman, Michael | |
| dc.date | 2017-04-01T15:11:50Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-09T02:59:15Z | |
| dc.description | In this paper we first describe the legal and administrative basis of mandates that variously require and eschew economic measures for environmental management. We then summarize the steps involved in benefit-cost analysis and what can and cannot be accomplished with such information. Our basic conclusion is that while the approach is not perfect, benefit-cost analysis has a solid methodological footing and provides a valuable performance measure for an important governmental function, improving the well-being of society. However, benefit-cost analysis requires analytical judgements which, if done poorly, can obfuscate an issue or worse, provide a refuge for scoundrels in the policy debate. We conclude the article with specific suggestions for both the everyday performance of benefit-cost analysis and its use in policy decision-making. | |
| dc.identifier | doi:10.22004/ag.econ.10598 | |
| dc.identifier | https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/10598/files/dp990011.pdf | |
| dc.identifier | http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/10598 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/524270 | |
| dc.language | eng | |
| dc.publisher | ||
| dc.source | http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/10598 | |
| dc.title | Using Environmental Benefit-Cost Analysis to Improve Government Performance | |
| dc.type | Text |