About

The Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis (SBCA) works to improve the theory and practice of benefit-cost analysis and support evidence-based policy decisions. SBCA members include scholars and practitioners from around the world, from government, academia, nonprofits and private industry. They represent numerous disciplines such as economics, law, engineering, public policy, decision science and natural science. The Society addresses a wide range of policy areas, including criminal justice, education, energy, environmental quality, homeland security, poverty, public health, transportation and many other topics. Society members work with a broad set of methods, including benefit-cost analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, risk-benefit analysis, applied welfare economic analysis and damage assessments.

SBCA was founded in 2007 by the Benefit-Cost Analysis Center at the Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington, with generous support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Mission

The Society is dedicated to the advancement, exchange of ideas, and research related to benefit-cost analysis (BCA), cost-effectiveness analysis, risk-benefit analysis, applied welfare economic analysis, and damage assessment.

Goals

  • Bringing together individuals from diverse disciplines and countries, and providing them opportunities to foster collaboration and exchange information, ideas, and methodologies related to the practice and theory of benefit-cost analysis and applied welfare economics.
  • Encouraging applications of benefit-cost analysis and applied welfare economics, and promoting dialogue between practitioners and others who are interested in benefit-cost analysis.
  • Facilitating the development and dissemination of knowledge about benefit-cost and applied welfare analysis methods and applications.
  • Developing and updating standards of practice for benefit-cost analysis and applied welfare economics.
  • Fostering methods to improve communication and consideration of benefit-cost methods and results.

Governance

SBCA is governed by a Board of Directors and supported by the volunteer efforts of our many members.