Expanding the Scope of Benefit Cost Analysis: Practical Applications and Analytical Frontiers
Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis Fourth Annual Conference and Meeting
Friday, October 21
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Registration, Monet Foyer
2:30 p.m.–2:45 p.m. Welcome Remarks
Monet Ballroom
- Glenn P. Jenkins, President, Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis
2:45 p.m.–4:15 p.m. Panel 1: Exploring the Net Benefits of Land Cleanup and Reuse
Monet Ballroom
Moderator: Robin R. Jenkins, Senior Economist, U.S Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Handbook on the Benefits, Costs, and Impacts of Land Cleanup and Reuse
- Heather Klemick, Economist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Valuing the Benefits of Superfund Site Remediation: Three Approaches to Measuring Localized Externalities
- Christopher Timmins, Associate Professor, Duke University (Presenter)
- Shanti Gamper-Rabindran, Assistant Professor of Environmental Economics and Policy, University of Pittsburgh
CERCLA’s Overlooked Cleanup Program: Emergency Response and Removal
- Alex Marten, Economist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Presenter)
- Elizabeth Kopits, Economist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Robin R. Jenkins, Senior Economist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Heather Klemick, Economist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Estimating the Impacts of Brownfield Remediation on Housing Property Values
- Kevin Haninger, Public Health Analyst, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Presenter)
- Christopher Timmins, Associate Professor, Duke University
- Lala Ma, Doctoral Candidate, Duke University
What Do Property Values Really Tell Us? A Hedonic Study of Pollution from Underground Storage Tanks
- Dennis Guignet, Economist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Presenter)
- Jeffrey Zabel, Professor, Tufts University
Panel 2: The Need for Cost-Benefit Analysis in Criminal Justice Reform
Renoir Room
Moderator: Inimai Chettiar, Advocacy and Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Justice
Panel 3: Application of Cost Analysis in Developing Economies
Degas Room
Moderator: Glenn P. Jenkins, Professor, Department of Economics, Queen’s University, Canada and Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus
Cost Benefit Analysis in World Bank Projects
- Andrew M. Warner, Lead Economist, Independent Evaluation Group
The Use of Cost-Benefit Analysis in World Bank Operations: Overview of Recent Practice, and Some Issues for Future Policy
- Jon Strand, Senior Economist, The World Bank, Development Research Group, Environment and Energy Team (Presenter)
- Michael Toman, Research Manager, The World Bank, Development Research Group, Environment and Energy Team
- Andrew Warner, Independent Evaluation Group, The World Bank
Benefit-Cost Analysis and Performance-Driven Loans
- Adriana Maraviglia, Inter-American Development Bank
4:15 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Break
Monet Foyer
4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Panel 4: Disaster Preparedness
Monet Ballroom
Moderator: Elena D. Ryan, Chief, Economic Impact Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Induced Development in Risky Locations: Fire Suppression and Land Use in the American West
- Carolyn Kousky, Fellow, Resources for the Future (Presenter)
- Sheila Olmstead, Resources for the Future
Surviving Natures Most Powerful Storm: Cost Effective Methods To Reduce Tornado Casualties
- Kevin M. Simmons, Corrigan Chair of Economics, Austin College (Presenter)
- Daniel Sutter, Charles Koch Professor of Economics, Johnson Center for Political Economy, Troy University
The Effect of Nearby Tornadoes on Self-Protection Investments
- Eric N. Duquette, Research Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (Presenter)
- Trudy Ann Cameron, Raymond F. Mikesell Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, University of Oregon
The Dynamic Effects of Hurricanes in the US: The Role of Non-Disaster Transfer Payments
- Tatyana Deryugina, Lecturer, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Panel 5: Air/Water Pollution
Renoir Room
Moderator: Ken Acks, Cost-Benefit Group, LLC + Environmental Valuation and Cost-Benefit News
Does Electronic Reporting of Emissions Information Generate Environmental Benefits?
- Ron Shadbegian, Senior Economist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Center for Environmental Economics (Presenter)
- Ann Wolverton, Senior Economist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Center for Environmental Economics
- Wayne Gray, Professor, Clark University
Uncertainty and Estimates of the Benefits of Reducing Fine Particle Pollution
- Randall Lutter, Visiting Scholar, Resources for the Future
- Art Fraas, Visiting Scholar, Resources for the Future
The Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Approaches to Residential Radon Control
- Erik Johnson, Assistant Professor of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology (Presenter)
- Paul Courant, Harold T. Shapiro Collegiate Professor of Public Policy Professor of Economics and of Information, University of Michigan
- David Mendez, Associate Professor, University of Michigan
- Kenneth Warner, Avedis Donabedian Distinguished University Professor of Public Health, University of Michigan
Reference-Dependent Valuations of Environmental Health Risks
- W. Kip Viscusi, Distinguished Professor of Law, Economics, and Management, Vanderbilt University (Presenter)
- Joel Huber, Schwartz Professor of Marketing, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Panel 6: Benefit-Cost Analysis and Regulation
Degas Room
Moderator: Stuart Shapiro, Associate Professor and Director of
the Public Policy Program, Rutgers University
An Assessment of Private and Public Impacts of Broadband Policies on Next Generation Broadband Deployment in the U.S.
- David Waring, Doctoral Student, Rutgers University (Presenter)
- Stuart Shapiro, Associate Professor and Director of the Public Policy Program, Rutgers University
A Review into Measuring Change in Social Welfare for Regulatory Evaluation: Explaining the Advantages and Pitfalls
- Alex Moscoso, Economist, HDR
The Regulatory Red Herring—Environmental Protection and the “Job-Killing” Myth
- Jason Schwartz, Legal Director, Institute for Policy Integrity, New York University
- Elizabeth Pienaar, Economics Fellow, Institute for Policy Integrity, New York University
Market Failures, Behavioral Economics, and Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal Regulations
- Donald Kenkel, Professor, Cornell University, Department of Policy Analysis and Management
Saturday, October 22
8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. Check-In/Continental Breakfast
Monet Ballroom
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Panel 7: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs After 30 Years of Benefit-Cost Analysis
Monet Ballroom
Moderator: John F. Morrall III, Independent Consultant and Affiliated Senior Scholar, Mercatus Center, George Mason University
30 Years as an Obscure, Unaccountable Monopoly Is Enough: It’s Time for OIRA to Face Competition in Regulatory Review
- Richard B. Belzer, President, Regulatory Checkbook, and Managing Editor, Neutral Science
Perpetuating Puffery? OIRA’s Annual Benefit-Cost Report to Congress
- Susan Dudley, Director, Regulatory Studies Center, The George Washington University (OIRA 1984–1989, 2007–2009)
Reflections on OIRA’s Oversight Role: Past Actions and Next Steps
- Art Fraas, Visiting Scholar, Resources for the Future (CWPS, OIRA 1981–2008)
On Retrospective Analysis of Federal Regulations
- Randall Lutter, Visiting Scholar, Resources for the Future (OIRA 1991–1998, 2009–2010)
Can Benefit-Cost Analysis Be Saved? Top Technical and Institutional Obstacles to Closing BCA’s Credibility Gap as Applied to Regulation
- Brian Mannix, President, Buckland Mill Associates (CWPS 1979–1981, OIRA 1981–1987)
Does Haste Make Waste? How Long Does it Take to Do a Good Benefit-Cost Analysis?
- Stuart Shapiro, Associate Professor and Director of Public Policy Program, Rutgers University (1998–2003) (Presenter)
- John F. Morrall III, Independent Consultant and Affiliated Senior Scholar, Mercatus Center, George Mason University (CWPS 1975–1981, OIRA 1981–2008)
Panel 8: Concepts and Methods I
Renoir Room
Moderator: Jack Knetsch, Professor Emeritus, Simon Fraser University
The Appropriate Discount Rate for Benefit-Cost Analysis
- David Burgess, Professor, University of Western Ontario (Presenter)
- Richard O. Zerbe, Distinguished Professor, University of Washington
Integrating Benefit-Cost Analysis in Portfolio Development
- John R. Tindle, Senior Decision Analyst, TASC, Inc.
Discounting Behavior: A Reconsideration
- Steffen Andersen, Department of Economics, Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Glenn Harrison, Department of Risk Management & Insurance and Center for the Economic Analysis of Risk, Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University (Presenter)
- Morten I. Lau, Professor of Behavioral Finance, Durham Business School, Durham University
- E. Elisabet Rutström, Professor, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University
Improving the Use of Benefit-Cost Analysis in Decisionmaking
- Kristina Gogic, Legal Advisor to the Ombudsman, Office of the Croatian Ombudsman
Panel 9: Social Programs: Youth, and Early Adulthood
Degas Room
Moderator: Joseph Cordes, Professor of Economics, Public Policy and Public Administration, and International Affairs, The George Washington University
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Communities That Care Outcomes at Eighth Grade
- Margaret Kuklinski, Research Scientist, Social Development Group, University of Washington (Presenter)
- J. David Hawkins, Professor, University of Washington
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Raising the Age of Juvenile Jurisdiction in North Carolina
- Christian Henrichson, Senior Policy Analyst, Vera Institute of Justice
Cost Effectiveness of the Opening Doors Program at Chaffey College
- Timothy Rudd, Cost-Benefit Analyst, MDRC
A Fiscal Impact Analysis of Three Strategies to Prevent Unintended Pregnancy
- Adam Thomas, Visiting Assistant Professor, Georgetown Public Policy Institute
10:30 a.m.–10:45 a.m. Break
Monet Foyer
10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Panel 10: Climate
Monet Ballroom
Moderator: Heather Klemick, Economist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Comparing the Costs of Alternative Policies for Climate Finance
- Ian Parry, Technical Assistance Advisor, International Monetary Fund (Presenter)
- Ruud de Mooij, Economist, Fiscal Affairs Department, International Monetary Fund
Cost-Effectiveness and Marginal Abatement Cost Analysis in Low-Carbon Growth Modeling for Emerging Market Countries: Lessons From China, Mexico, and Colombia
- William A. Ward, Professor, Clemson University (Presenter)
- Todd M. Johnson, Lead Energy Specialist, Sustainable Development, The World Bank
Promoting Pollution Prevention in Small Businesses: Costs and Benefits of the “Enviroclub” Initiative
- Paul Lanoie, Professor, Institute of Applied Economics, HEC Montréal (Presenter)
- Alexandra Rochon-Fabien, HEC Montréal
Panel 11: Benefit-Cost Analysis and Transportation Infrastructure Investment
Renoir Room
Moderator: Anthony Homan, Deputy Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Transportation
Benefit-Cost Analysis of Airports: Are Benefit Transfers a Useful Tool for the Assessment of Noise Impacts on Human Health?
- Denise Zak, Project Assistant, Center of Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy, Vienna University of Technology (Presenter)
- Michael Getzner, Chair, Center of Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy, Vienna University of Technology
Framework for Measuring Value Premium of Affordable Housing Due to Transit Investment
Estimation of Option Value in the Assessment of Transportation Investments
- Jose E. Tejeda, Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton
Panel 12: Concepts and Methods II
Degas Room
Moderator: Lisa A. Robinson, Independent Consultant
The Reference State Basis of Comparison, Adaptation to Losses, And The Choice of Welfare Measure
- Jack Knetsch, Professor Emeritus, Simon Fraser University
Modifying the Benefit-Cost Standard to Reflect Political Costs: A Behavioral-Economic Approach
- Kerry Krutilla, Associate Professor, Indiana University (Presenter)
- Alex Alexeev, Postdoctoral Fellow, Indiana University
Scitovsky Reversals Caused by Environmental Policies Under Constrained Conditions
- Richard Just, Professor, University of Maryland
- Andrew Schmitz, Professor and Eminent Scholar, University of Florida
- Richard O. Zerbe, Distinguished Professor, University of Washington (Presenter)
Social Welfare Functions and the Value of Statistical Life
- Matt Adler, Leon Meltzer Professor, University of Pennsylvania Law School
12:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Lunch, Business meeting of the Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis membership
Solarium Room
1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Panel 13: Landscape-Based Public Goods, Forests, and Biodiversity
Monet Ballroom
Moderator: Richard B. Belzer, President, Regulatory Checkbook and Managing Editor, Neutral Source
Optimal Supply of Landscape-based Public Goods: Benefit-Cost Prioritization With and Without Spatial Interdependencies
- Steven J. Dundas, Doctoral Student, Department of Economics, North Carolina State University (Presenter)
- Joshua M. Duke, Professor, Departments of Food and Resource Economics, Economics, and Legal Studies, University of Delaware
- Robert J. Johnston, Professor, Department of Economics and Director, George Perkins Marsh Institute (GPMI), Clark University
- Kent D. Messer, Associate Professor, Departments of Food and Resource Economics and Economics, University of Delaware
State Parks as Public Goods: Public Funding or User Fees?
- Trudy Ann Cameron, Raymond F. Mikesell Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, University of Oregon (Presenter)
- Brian Vander Naald, Doctoral Student, University of Oregon
Biodiversity and Resilience in Benefit Cost Analysis
- Jeff Bennett, Professor, Australian National University, Crawford School (Presenter)
- Gabriela Scheufele, Doctoral Student, Australian National University, Crawford School
Goal Conflicts and Benefit-Cost Analysis–The Case of Sweden's National Environmental Objectives
- Göran Bostedt, Associate Professor, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Panel 14: Alternative Energy, Green Roofs, and BCA in the Netherlands
Renoir Room
Moderator: Brian Mannix, President, Buckland Mill Associates
A Model for the Financial and Economic Analysis of Wind Farms For Electricity Generation with Application to Santiago, Cape Verde
- Sener Salci, Graduate Student, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham, UK (Presenter)
- Glenn P. Jenkins, Professor, Department of Economics, Queen’s University, Canada and Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus
Estimated Costs and Benefits of one Thousand Green Roofs in New York City
- Ken Acks, Cost-Benefit Group, LLC + Environmental Valuation and Cost-Benefit News
The Practice of Valuing the Environment in Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Jan Anne Annema, Assistant Professor, Transport Policy, Delft University of Technology (Presenter)
- Carl Koopmans, Professor, VU University, Amsterdam
Panel 15: Social Investments
Degas Room
Moderator: Richard O. Zerbe, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Public Affairs, Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington
The Benefits of Preventing a Foreclosure
- Michael Hollar, Senior Economist, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research
- Alastair McFarlane, Director, Economic Development and Public Finance Division, Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Identifying and Measuring Benefits and Costs of an Early Intervention Homeless Service Provider
- Andrew T. Carswell, Associate Professor, University of Georgia, Department of Housing and Consumer Economics
- Sarah Concannon, Graduate Student, University of Georgia
A Benefit-Cost Analysis of the U.K. Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) Demonstration
- David Greenberg, Professor Emeritus, UMBC (Presenter)
- Johanna Walter, Senior Technical Research Associate, MDRC
- Genevieve Knight, Principal Research Fellow, Policy Studies Institute, University of Westminster
How Does Unemployment Insurance Affect the Decision to Apply for Social Security Disability Insurance?
- Stephan Lindner, Research Associate, The Urban Institute
3:00 p.m.–3:15 p.m. Break
Monet Foyer
3:15 p.m.–4:45 p.m. Panel 16: Water Resources and Ecosystems
Monet Ballroom
Moderator: Kerry Krutilla, Associate Professor, Indiana University
Estimation of Salinity Impacts and Potential Economic Benefits of Salinity Reduction
- Ari Michelsen, Research Director and Professor, Texas AgriLife Research Center at El Paso, Texas A&M System
New Water Resources Planning Guidance in Today’s World: Does it Address the Critical Tests of Applicability, Relevance and Theoretical Soundness?
- Larry Prather, Assistant Director for Legislation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Norman Starler, Senior Economist, Institute for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Asking the Wrong Question: Is Resource-Based Compensation for Environmental Damage Restricting Social Welfare Gains?
- Scott Cole, Doctoral Student, Centre for Environmental and Resource Economics (CERE), Umeå, Sweden
Panel 17: What a Role for CBA in the European Union?
Renoir Room
Moderator: John F. Morrall III, Independent Consultant and Affiliated Senior Scholar, Mercatus Center, George Mason University
What a Role for CBA in EU decision-making?
- Alberto Alemanno, Associate Professor of Law, HEC Paris
Impact Assessment and the EU Policy Cycle
- Giacomo Luchetta, Centre for European Policy Studies, Brussels, and Doctoral Student, LUISS "Guido Carli" University, Rome
The Role of the Discount Rate in the Cost-Benefit Analysis Between Theory and Practice, a Comparative Survey
- Felice Simonelli, Doctoral Student in Law and Economics, and Junior Researcher GRIF "Fabio Gobbo", LUISS "Guido Carli" University, Rome
Which Evidence? The Role of BCA to Instruct Rational Regulation
- Elisa Vecchione, Postdoctoral fellow, Sustainable Development Centre, Sciences Po, Paris
Panel 18: How Should a Congressional Office of Regulatory Analysis Conduct and Review Regulatory Benefit-Cost Analysis?
Degas Room
Improving the Public’s Return on Investment in Regulatory Benefit-Cost Analysis: A Congressional Perspective
- Heidi R. King, Chief Economist, Energy and Commerce Committee, U.S. House of Representatives
Alternative Ways to Organize an Effective Congressional Regulatory Review and Analysis Function
- Richard B. Belzer, President, Regulatory Checkbook and Managing Editor, Neutral Source
Is there a Role for the Judiciary to Improve Regulatory Analysis?
- Patrick J. McCormick III, Republican Special Counsel, Energy and Commerce Committee, U.S. Senate
BCA in Financial Regulation: An Idea That’s Not Too Big to Fail
- Raymond Squitieri, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
4:45 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
Monet Room
- Glenn P. Jenkins, President, Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis
- Joseph Cordes, Vice President, Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis