Developing Consistent Benefit-cost Analyses across Research Organisations

摘要

This paper discusses a number of practical issues which need attention if the quality and value of benefit-cost analysis (BCA) is to be improved. Consistency issues are discussed as part of an overall approach to improving quality.rnConsistency is important for two reasons. First, the potential value and usefulness of BCA in decision-making will be improved and, related to this, decision-makers will place greater emphasis on BCA if the studies have credibility.rnSources of inconsistency are: the availability of accurate and consistent data; differences in benefit estimation; poor knowledge about key variables such as the adoption of technology; the importance of considering what might have happened in the absence of the technology; and differences in defining the target population.