How (Not) to Lie with Benefit-Cost Analysis

Author/Creator

Date

2013-11-22

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Farrow, Scott; How (Not) to Lie with Benefit-Cost Analysis; The Economists’ Voice, 10, 1, pages 45-50, 22 November, 2013; https://doi.org/10.1515/ev-2013-0012

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Subjects

Abstract

Benefit-cost analysis is the applied side of welfare economics. Its broad use in support of public decisions draws both detractors and defenders. This tongue-in-cheek piece demonstrates that knowing how to lie provides insights into how not to lie; we assume the former is always accidental among economists and we hope it is so for others.