Reviews
Publication Reviews
Cost-Benefit Analysis and Health Care Evaluations, Robert J. Brent, 2004
'Professor Brent's book is a superb and much-needed text in the field of health care evaluation. The economic approaches for appraisal of health care programs are presented with greater clarity than any other available text. A comprehensive review of cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility analysis, and cost-benefit analysis is given in a simple and yet very insightful manner that pointedly demonstrates their fundamental principles, methodological requirements, and common linkages for evaluation research.
The book skilfully merges theory and application of the economic analyses of health care, combining the latest literature with adroit illustrations of required methodologies and easily understandable examples that inform the reader of how empirical evaluation research should be conducted. Major evaluation concerns about the appropriateness of discounting health benefits, the appropriate discount (interest) rate, and intangible benefits and costs are critically appraised. Not only is the criterion of economic efficiency of health care programs explored directly and with lucidity, but the important social question of the equity of health interventions is also assessed straightforwardly.
Students of health care as well as health policy analysts and administrators are provided with a considerable solid foundation for undertaking evaluation of complex health care issues. In short, Professor Brent has even made the economics of health care evaluation accessible to non-economists in the health care field.'
- Paul L. Solano, University of Delaware, US
Information on this book can be found at: http://www.healtheconomics.org/books/2004/05/01/costbenefit-analysis-and-.html
Website Reviews
Caltrans: Benefit-Cost Analysis
Benefit-Cost Analysis, also sometimes referred to as Cost-Benefit Analysis, is a systematic process for calculating and comparing benefits and costs of a project for two purposes:
- to determine if it is a sound investment (justification/feasibility)
- to see how it compares with alternate projects (ranking/priority assignment)
Benefit-Cost Analysis works by first defining the project and any alternatives; then identifying, measuring, and valuing the benefits and costs of each.
This website leads users, step by step, through the process of benefit-cost analysis, explaining concepts and describing methodologies.
Topics 1 through 4 below guide the user through the analysis.
Topics 5 through 7 provide examples of benefit-cost analysis and references for further information.
What You Will Find on This Website
- How to define the problem that the project addresses and set up the analysis
- How to measure and value benefits and costs of transportation projects
- How to calculate benefit-cost measures
- How to interpret and present the results of benefit-cost analysis
- Sample benefit-cost models and links to model sites
- Case studies of benefit-cost analyses for transportation projects
- References
This website is located at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tpp/offices/ote/Benefit_Cost/index.html
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