Why is the choice of social discount rate important in
cost-benefit analysis? Critically examine when it
is most appropriate to use the (1) Social Opportunity Cost of
Capital, (2) Social Rate of Time Preference, and (3) Ramsey
approach for discounting in Cost- Benefit Analysis.
Who are the winners and losers in international trade? Discus
the positives and negatives of a government placing barriers on
international trade. With the current Covid-19 pandemic and the
role of China in the pandemic, how do you believe the U.S.A. should
structure its trade practices in regards to China? You will want to
examine why the U.S. trades with China and is there a potential
trading partner substitute for China, or should the U.S. continue
developing the "Phase 2"...
Some have argued that in use for Cost-Benefit Analysis, a higher
discount rate is ‘unfair’ to future generations. Explain why this
is not necessarily the case. Give an example to demonstrate.
Welfare economics looks at winners and losers through changes in
consumer and producer surpluses. When the U.S. imposed tariffs on
steel imports my relatives from the Iron Range of Minnesota were
happy about the tariffs. My husband's employer manufactures potato
harvesting equipment. They are facing higher steel costs as a
result of the tariffs. Using a welfare economics explain in
economic terms, the reason some businesses liking the tariffs and
other businesses not liking the tariffs. What is the overall...
What is the social discount rate? Explain why the social
discount rate used in a benefit-cost analysis can have a large
impact on the study’s conclusions. Discuss your answers
in the context of a carbon tax.
When discounting future costs and benefits, anyone performing a
benefit-cost analysis will use an interest rate or a discounting
rate, which is shown as i in the following equation:
Explain why the net present value of most projects
rises when i decreases. (1)
Imagine that a project will yield $20M in benefits immediately,
but will result in $200B in damaged at the end of 500 years. Using
a rate of i=0.03 or 3% to discount the future damages, calculate
the...