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Article: Benefit-Cost Analysis
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of Public Health
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS
Benefit-cost analysis is a technique for assessing the desirability of government projects and policies. The basic idea is simple: Consider alternative policies and identify the one that yields the greatest net gain to society. Benefit-cost analysis has been widely used to compare the positive and negative aspects
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measured in terms of reduced mortality, morbidity, property damage, and losses to the natural environment
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of policies that affect public health and the environment.
Benefit-cost analysis has been widely used in the design of environmental policies and to help resolve disputes under the U.S. legal system. Under the Comprehensive Environmental ...