Publisher's Synopsis
Most techniques for economic appraisal fail to reflect the modern ambitions of democratic government. This book develops a technique which aims to do so. It combines elements of financial analysis, cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness techniques. In doing so it develops a new approach to economics in public policy. It generates a new way of measuring resources in terms of policy objectives and measures of their distribution. This leads to an attempt to build an economics on a philosophical basis which avoids utilitarianism, but is rooted instead in a notion of basic rights derived from, among others, Kant and Sen. The book is is a result of the authors' extensive experience in applying economic techniques in government and academic activity in areas such as transport, health, education, economic development, energy, environment and land use.
