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Cost-Benefit Analysis and the Control of Public Expenditure: An Assessment of British Experience in the 1980s

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  • Florio, Massimo

Abstract

This paper examines approaches to public investment appraisal as theyare currently recommended in the British Treasury and implemented byevaluation units within the Department of Health, Department of Transport and the Home Office. The evidence suggests that spending departments have reacted to the pressure for increased selectivity in their expenditures by adopting a heterogeneous blend of appraisal techniques, including financial analysis, cost-effectiveness and option appraisal, withcost-benefit analysis eventually playing a minor role. The imposition of cash limits rations capital expenditures. When these constraints bite departments differently, either a unique social discount rate for projectappraisal is inappropriate or the rations themselves are giving wrong signals to the departments The departments do not have an incentive todevote time and effort to cost benefit analysis and other techniques of a more limited scope are implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Florio, Massimo, 1990. "Cost-Benefit Analysis and the Control of Public Expenditure: An Assessment of British Experience in the 1980s," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(2), pages 103-131, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jnlpup:v:10:y:1990:i:02:p:103-131_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Mihaela PACESILA & Carmen Nadia CIOCOIU & Sofia Elena COLESCA & Stefan Gabriel BURCEA, 2015. "An Overview Of Cost Benefit Analysis For Weee Recycling Projects," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 9(1), pages 321-332, November.
    2. Teodora I. BITOIU & Crina RADULESCU, 2015. "The 3c Decision Cockpit For A Market-Oriented Public Administration," SEA - Practical Application of Science, Romanian Foundation for Business Intelligence, Editorial Department, issue 8, pages 127-134, June.

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