This new book of readings covers all the main problems that arise in a typical cost-benefit exercise. It is entirely up-to-date, reflecting the most recent research in the area. The book begins with an extended elementary introduction written by the editors. It provides an introduction both to the subject and to the readings themselves, showing how cost-benefit analysis might be applied to a specific real-life problem.

Part I. Introduction; Part II. Theoretical Issues: 1. Policy reform, shadow prices and market prices J. Drèze and N. Stern; 2. Feasibility constraints: foreign exchange shadow wages A. K. Sen; 3. The rate of discount for cost benefit analysis and the theory of the second best J. E. Stiglitz; 4. Uncertainty and the evaluation of public investment decisions K. J. Arrow and R. C. Lind; 5. Allowing for income distributions R. Layard and A. A. Walters; 6. Project appraisal and planning twenty years on I. M. D. Little and J. A. Mirrlees; Part III. How to Value Things: 7. Research into the value of time The MVA Consultancy et al.; 8. The theory of equalising differences S. Rosen; 9. The economics of safety and physical risk M. W. Jones-Lee; 10. The environment and emerging development issues P. Dasgupta and K. Maler; 11. Resource depletion, research and development, and the social rate of discount P. Dasgupta; Part IV. Case Studies: 12. Enhancing the performance of the deregulated air transportation system S. A. Morrison and C. Winston; 13. Pricing and congestion: economic principles relevant to pricing roads D. Newbery; 14. The allocation of urban transport subsidy S. Glaister; 15. QUALYs and equity-efficiency tradeoff A. Wagstaff; 16. Water vending activities in developing countries D. Whittington, D. T. Lauria, D. A. Okun and X. Mu; 17. Assessing the social rate of return from investment in temperate zone forestry D. W. Pearce.