Cost-Effectiveness and Cost–Benefit Analysis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
George C. Davis ◽  
Elena L. Serrano
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Improve Health

Chapter 16 gives an overview of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis. Every year millions of dollars are spent on food and nutrition intervention programs that are designed to improve health. Given money can always be spent in many different ways leads to a natural question: How effective was the program, relative to how much it cost? There are two standard approaches to answering this question: a cost effectiveness analysis and a cost benefit analysis. The chapter covers the main questions that must be answered in doing either a cost effectiveness or cost benefit analysis. The main formulas in each approach are presented. The pros and cons of each approach are discussed. A hypothetical nutrition intervention program is carried throughout to provide context for the discussion.

The Principles and Objectives of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

1968 ◽  
Vol 72 (685) ◽  
pp. 43-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Stratton
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Decision Processes ◽  
The Political ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Value For Money ◽  
Effectiveness Analysis ◽  
National Newspaper ◽  
Is Value

The terms “cost-effectiveness” and to a lesser degree “cost-benefit” analysis have become familiar words in the technical and national press, the former usually in relation to defence projects—the latter in relation to social projects, such as transport, power generation and building. Indeed, at the time of the last General Election the political correspondent of a national newspaper wrote, “Mr. Heath and Mr. Callaghan, Chancellor of the Exchequer, vied with each other in stressing the importance of cost-effectiveness, which used to be known as getting value for money”. The apparently simple concept of “value for money” raises three important issues: (i) how is “value” of defence and social projects quantified? (ii) what is the “money” involved, i.e. what are all the relevant costs? and (iii) what are the information and decision processes that are used in attempting to obtain “value for money“?

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