Zerbe (public affairs, U. of Washington) and Bellas (economics, Metropolitan State U.) provide a guide to conducting benefit-cost analysis on proposed or previously enacted public projects, for
advanced undergraduate and graduate students in public policy, public administration, economics, and health care administration as well as practitioners. The book explains the theory and legal
and philosophical basis for benefit-cost analysis and its process, including the issue of standing, welfare changes, inputs and outputs, shadow values and the contingent valuation method,
general equilibrium analysis, discounting and offers, and sensitivity and risk analysis. Two case studies on fuel taxes and banning cell phones while driving are considered. Both name and
subject indexes are included. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
