This subject builds on an understanding of microeconomic concepts in order to provide you with an introduction to several widely-applied economic evaluation and impact-assessment methods. Informing decision-makers about how best to allocate scarce resources is a key role for economists in both the private and public sectors. This subject equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to this process, and provides a comprehensive foundation for advanced study in the area.
The first module of the subject emphasises development of the practical skills required to conduct and critique a simple benefit-cost analysis of a project or program, including the ability to organise and present a benefit-cost analysis report effectively. The second module introduces you to approaches for assessing the impact of particular projects on the economy. The aim is to give you a working knowledge of how multi-sector models are constructed and estimated, and of how predicted impacts should be interpreted. The subject also provides you with the theoretical knowledge required to understand the implications, and limitations, of benefit-cost analysis and impact assessment.