DRL007 Cost benefit analysis (Autumn 2023)

About the course

The general objective is to learn about the state of the art in Cost-Benefit Analysis for various sectors. There is an increasing need for evaluation and ranking of projects within constrained public budgets. CBA is one of the methods that are extensively used in economic impact assessment of projects in the public sector.

Originally, CBA was developed and applied within transportation, but has gained increasing attention also within environmental assessment, health care and cultural economics. The course covers fundamental theoretical and empirical issues and applies these to actual case studies.

Topics

• The theoretical and conceptual platform covers topics like consumer and producer surplus measures, efficiency and equity, opportunity costs, imperfect markets, external effects, network effects, public goods, cost-efficiency analysis, constraints based on rights and politics, CBA and decision-making, critique of CBA.
• The discount rate, systematic and unsystematic risks.
• Non-market valuation. Methods like Contingent Valuation and Stated Preferences to measure the economic value of intangibles like travel time, environment impacts, health care effects and traffic safety measures

 

Case studies (adjustments may occur)

• Climate change and environment
• Health care
• Energy
• Transport
• Wider Economic Impacts from changes in transport systems

 

The course is connected to the following study programs

• Phd Studies in Logistics for external students
• Philosophiae Doctor in Logistics (PhD)

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

After completing the course, the student should have acquired the following:

Knowledge

• in-depth of the theoretical foundation for advanced cost-benefit analysis and how they are applied within a selection of sectors.
• Knowledge about the strengths and weaknesses of the analytical framework
• In-depth knowledge about one selected aspect or topic in which the student choose to specialise

Skills

• Ability to apply and to develop theories and analytical models presented in the course to support research at PhD level

Competence

• Analytical and writing abilities through the process of assignment writing

Forms of teaching and learning

One week (daily about 9am-5pm) lectures (approx.30h) and other learning activities.

Dates for 2023: 27. november - 1. december

Room: B-137. Map

 

 

 

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

• Mandatory coursework: Attendance for teaching
• Courseworks given:
• Courseworks required:
• Presence: Not required
• Comment: Participation during all lectures and other learning activities are mandatory.

Examination

• Form of assessment: Home assessment
• Proportion: %
• Duration: -
• Grouping: Individual
• Grading scale: Pass/fail
• Support material: Separate list, see below

Course evaluation

Home exam in the form of a course paper.