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Norwegian

Some Norwegian Politicians’ Use of Cost-Benefit Analysis

Authors:

Nyborg, K.

Year:

1998

Reference:

Public Choice

95, 381-401.

Summary

Members of the Norwegian Parliament were interviewed about their use of cost-benefit analysis in the political treatment of a road investment plan. Most respondents found the cost-benefit ratio useful as a screening device to pick projects requiring closer political attention, but few seemed to actually use it to rank projects. Attitudes towards cost-benefit analysis varied along the left-right political axis, with politicians to the left being the most sceptical. These findings are consistent with a hypothesis that politicians rationally maximize subjective, but different, perceptions of social welfare.

Project:

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Contact:

karine.nyborg@frisch.uio.no