Criteria for a Social Cost-Benefit Analysis

A social cost-benefit analysis (SCBA) is an information tool supporting decision-making on a policy measure or policy option, enabling policy decisions to be based on objective grounds as far as possible. An SCBA provides an overview of the effects of a measure and the resulting benefits and disbenefits to society as a whole. By quantifying these benefits and disbenefits as far as possible and expressing them in monetary terms the SCBA provides information on the effect of the measure on social prosperity, as the balance of benefits less costs measured in Euros.

The Netherlands has guidelines for the social cost-benefit analysis (SCBA) of transport projects. This document summarizes the main criteria laid down in these guidelines for SCBAs of transport measures, looking specifically at the criteria that an SCBA for investment in a regional airport such as Groningen Airport Eelde (GAE) needs to meet.