What is Cost-Benefit Analysis?

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A cost-benefit analysis is a systematic process that businesses use to analyze which decisions to make and which to forgo. The cost-benefit analyst sums the potential rewards expected from a situation or action and then subtracts the total costs associated with taking that action. Some consultants or analysts also build models to assign a dollar value on intangible items, such as the benefits and costs associated with living in a certain town.

Definition

Cost-benefit analysis is a systematic process used by businesses to analyze decisions, determining which decisions to make and which to forgo. Cost-benefit analysts add up the expected potential returns from a situation or action and then subtract the total costs associated with taking that action. Some consultants or analysts also build models to assign a monetary value to intangible items, such as the benefits and costs associated with living in a particular town.

Origin

The concept of cost-benefit analysis originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, initially used for evaluating public works projects. Over time, this method has been widely applied in various fields, including business, government policy, and non-profit organizations, to help decision-makers make optimal choices under limited resources.

Categories and Features

Cost-benefit analysis can be divided into quantitative and qualitative analysis. Quantitative analysis involves converting all costs and benefits into monetary values for direct comparison. Qualitative analysis considers factors that are difficult to quantify, such as social impacts and environmental benefits. Its features include systematic and comprehensive evaluation, helping decision-makers identify and assess all relevant factors.

Case Studies

A typical case is a city government using cost-benefit analysis to decide whether to build a new bridge. By calculating the total costs of construction and maintenance and comparing them with the expected benefits of improved traffic and economic growth, the government can make an informed decision. Another case is a company considering launching a new product, using cost-benefit analysis to evaluate market potential and production costs, thereby deciding whether to invest.

Common Issues

Investors often encounter issues such as accurately estimating the value of intangible assets and dealing with uncertainty and risk when applying cost-benefit analysis. A common misconception is that all factors can be precisely quantified, overlooking the importance of qualitative factors.

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Lisbon Treaty

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Labor Intensive

The term "labor-intensive" refers to a process or industry that requires a large amount of labor to produce its goods or services. The degree of labor intensity is typically measured in proportion to the amount of capital required to produce the goods or services: the higher the proportion of labor costs required, the more labor-intensive the business.

Labor Intensive

The term "labor-intensive" refers to a process or industry that requires a large amount of labor to produce its goods or services. The degree of labor intensity is typically measured in proportion to the amount of capital required to produce the goods or services: the higher the proportion of labor costs required, the more labor-intensive the business.

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) are products that sell quickly at relatively low cost. FMCGs have a short shelf life because of high consumer demand (e.g., soft drinks and confections) or because they are perishable (e.g., meat, dairy products, and baked goods).They are bought often, consumed rapidly, priced low, and sold in large quantities. They also have a high turnover on store shelves. The largest FMCG companies by revenue are among the best known, such as Nestle SA. (NSRGY) ($99.32 billion in 2023 earnings) and PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) ($91.47 billion). From the 1980s up to the early 2010s, the FMCG sector was a paradigm of stable and impressive growth; annual revenue was consistently around 9% in the first decade of this century, with returns on invested capital (ROIC) at 22%.

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) are products that sell quickly at relatively low cost. FMCGs have a short shelf life because of high consumer demand (e.g., soft drinks and confections) or because they are perishable (e.g., meat, dairy products, and baked goods).They are bought often, consumed rapidly, priced low, and sold in large quantities. They also have a high turnover on store shelves. The largest FMCG companies by revenue are among the best known, such as Nestle SA. (NSRGY) ($99.32 billion in 2023 earnings) and PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) ($91.47 billion). From the 1980s up to the early 2010s, the FMCG sector was a paradigm of stable and impressive growth; annual revenue was consistently around 9% in the first decade of this century, with returns on invested capital (ROIC) at 22%.

Negotiable Instruments

A negotiable instrument is a signed document that promises a payment to a specified person or assignee. In other words, it is a formalized type of IOU: A transferable, signed document that promises to pay the bearer a sum of money at a future date or on-demand.Common examples of negotiable instruments include personal checks, cashier's checks, money orders, certificates of deposit (CDs), promissory notes, and traveler's checks. The person receiving the payment, known as the payee, must be named or otherwise indicated on the instrument. Because they are transferable and assignable, some negotiable instruments may trade on a secondary market.

Negotiable Instruments

A negotiable instrument is a signed document that promises a payment to a specified person or assignee. In other words, it is a formalized type of IOU: A transferable, signed document that promises to pay the bearer a sum of money at a future date or on-demand.Common examples of negotiable instruments include personal checks, cashier's checks, money orders, certificates of deposit (CDs), promissory notes, and traveler's checks. The person receiving the payment, known as the payee, must be named or otherwise indicated on the instrument. Because they are transferable and assignable, some negotiable instruments may trade on a secondary market.

Renewable Resource

A renewable resource is a resource that can be replenished naturally over time. As a result, it is sustainable despite its consumption by humankind.Renewable resources for the production of energy are considered especially important for their potential to replace non-renewable, or finite, resources. Additionally, renewable resources can offer cleaner energy solutions than those provided by non-renewable resources such as coal and fossil fuels.Examples of renewable resources include the sun, wind, water, the earth's heat (geothermal), and biomass.

Renewable Resource

A renewable resource is a resource that can be replenished naturally over time. As a result, it is sustainable despite its consumption by humankind.Renewable resources for the production of energy are considered especially important for their potential to replace non-renewable, or finite, resources. Additionally, renewable resources can offer cleaner energy solutions than those provided by non-renewable resources such as coal and fossil fuels.Examples of renewable resources include the sun, wind, water, the earth's heat (geothermal), and biomass.

Feasibility Study

A feasibility study is a detailed analysis that considers all of the critical aspects of a proposed project in order to determine the likelihood of it succeeding.Success in business may be defined primarily by return on investment, meaning that the project will generate enough profit to justify the investment. However, many other important factors may be identified on the plus or minus side, such as community reaction and environmental impact.Although feasibility studies can help project managers determine the risk and return of pursuing a plan of action, several steps should be considered before moving forward.

Feasibility Study

A feasibility study is a detailed analysis that considers all of the critical aspects of a proposed project in order to determine the likelihood of it succeeding.Success in business may be defined primarily by return on investment, meaning that the project will generate enough profit to justify the investment. However, many other important factors may be identified on the plus or minus side, such as community reaction and environmental impact.Although feasibility studies can help project managers determine the risk and return of pursuing a plan of action, several steps should be considered before moving forward.