Trade-off/Positional Analysis (with a Rawlsian Approach to Equity) as an Alternative to Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) in Socio-technical Decisions

This paper introduces the concept of a hybrid trade-off/positional analysis framework as an alternative to cost-benefit analysis (CBA). As a decision-support tool, the proposed framework (1) allows decision-makers not to monetize or aggregate non-monetary factors over time; (2) invites the entrance of stakeholders into the debate since there is greater transparency as to who benefits and who is harmed by a particular policy/program/project; (3) enables analysts to undertake a comparative analysis of alternatives over time; and (4) takes into account the important role of technological change in shaping the state and performance of a system. In addition, a Rawlsian approach to incorporating equity into decision-making is advocated. While the proposed framework has yet to be applied on a wide scale, the authors believe it approximates the way that decisions are actually made in the political system and holds the potential to assist with decision-making for sustainable development/transportation in a broad variety of contexts.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Hall, Ralph P
  • Ashford, Nicholas A
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2007-1-21 to 2007-1-25
• Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 23p
• Monograph Title: TRB 86th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Decision making; Decision support systems; Equity (Justice); Policy making; Public transit; Socioeconomic development; Socioeconomic factors; Sustainable development; Technological innovations; Transportation planning
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01044602
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 07-0490
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 28 2007 7:14AM