Behavioral economics for cost-benefit analysis : benefit validity when sovereign consumers seem to make mistakes / David L. Weimer.

Machine generated contents note: 1. Introduction; 2. Neoclassical valuation principles for CBA; 3. Possible behavioral frameworks for CBA; 4. Risk perception and expected utility deviations; 5. Large deviations between WTP and WTA; 6. Non-exponential time discounting; 7. Harmful addictive consumption; 8. Practical guidelines for valuation.

How should policy analysts assess 'benefit validity' when behavioral anomalies appear relevant? The author provides thoughtful answers through practical guidelines. This book introduces the concept of benefit validity as a criterion for estimating benefits from observed or stated preference studies, and provides practical guidelines to help analysts accommodate behavioral findings. It considers benefit validity in four areas: violations of expected utility theory, unexpectedly large differences between willingness to pay and willingness to accept, non-exponential discounting, and harmful addiction. In addition to its immediate value to practicing policy analysts, it helps behavioral economists identify issues where their research programs can make practical contributions to better policy analysis.