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Removing Some Dissonance From the Social Discount Rate Debate

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In an economy with a capital income tax distortion, the social discount rate (SDR) should reflect the social opportunity cost of capital rather than the social rate of time preference (consumption rate of interest) to ensure that public investments can produce Pareto improvements. The marginal cost of funds may exceed unity for a lump sum tax, but it is irrelevant for project evaluation. Even if a social welfare improvement is judged to be possible without passing the compensation test, the SDR should still reflect the social opportunity cost of capital to ensure that the project is the most efficient use of public funds.

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  • David Burgess, 2008. "Removing Some Dissonance From the Social Discount Rate Debate," University of Western Ontario, Economic Policy Research Institute Working Papers 20082, University of Western Ontario, Economic Policy Research Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwo:epuwoc:20082
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    1. Coppola, Andrea & Fernholz, Fernando & Glenday, Graham, 2014. "Estimating the economic opportunity cost of capital for public investment projects : an empirical analysis of the Mexican case," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6816, The World Bank.
    2. Glenn Jenkins & Chun-Yan Kuo, 2007. "The Economic Opportunity Cost of Capital for Canada - An Empirical Update," Development Discussion Papers 2007-04, JDI Executive Programs.
    3. Aygul Ozbafli & Chun-Yan Kuo & Glenn Jenkins, 2007. "Cost-benefit Analysis Case Study On Regulations To Lower The Level Of Sulphur In Gasoline," Working Paper 1134, Economics Department, Queen's University.
    4. Ferda Halicioglu & Cevat Karatas, 2011. "Estimation of Economic Discounting Rate for Practical Project Appraisal: The Case of Turkey," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 45(1), pages 155-166, July-Dece.
    5. Glenn Jenkins & Chun-Yan Kuo & Arnold C. Harberger, 2011. "Cost-Benefit Analysis for Investment Decisions: Chapter 8 (The Economic Opportunity Cost of Capital)," Development Discussion Papers 2011-08, JDI Executive Programs.
    6. Johansson Per-Olov & Kriström Bengt, 2011. "Comment on Burgess and Zerbe: On Bank Market Power and the Social Discount Rate," Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, De Gruyter, vol. 2(3), pages 1-6, August.
    7. Glenn Jenkins & CHUN-YAN KUO & JOHN GIRALDEZ, 2007. "Canadian Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis Guide," Development Discussion Papers 2007-03, JDI Executive Programs.

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