Cost-Benefit Analyses of Transportation Investments - Neither critical nor realistic [1]
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21159691 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Petter Næ (0000-0001-8571-8326, corresponding author), Petter Naess |
| Year | 2006 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 32-60 |
| Publication date | 2006-05-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Critical Realism (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1476-7430 • E-ISSN: 1572-5138 |
| Publisher | Maney Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1163/157251306776892830 |
| OpenAlex | W1967978629 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
This paper discusses the practice of cost-benefit analyses of transportation infrastructure investment projects from the meta-theoretical perspective of critical realism. Such analyses are based on a number of untenable ontological assumptions about social value, human nature and the natural environment. In addition, main input data are based on transport modelling analyses based on a misleading ‘local ontology’ among the model makers. The ontological misconceptions translate into erroneous epistemological assumptions about the possibility of precise predictions and the validity of willingness-to-pay investigations. Accepting the ontological and epistemological assumptions of cost-benefit analysis involves an implicit acceptance of the ethical and political values favoured by these assumptions. Cost-benefit analyses of transportation investment projects tend to neglect long-term environmental consequences and needs among population groups with a low ability to pay. Instead of cost-benefit analyses, impact analyses evaluating the likely effects of project alternatives against a wide range of societal goals is recommended, with quantification and economic valorisation only for impact categories where this can be done in an ontologically and epistemologically defensible way
Business · Economics · Complex Systems and Decision Making · Economic Theory and Institutions · Economic, financial, and policy analysis
What Kinds of Traffic Forecasts are Possible
An assessment of interventions for improving communication and trust in cost benefit analysis processes
Managing the insolvable limitations of cost-benefit analysis
Transcending Dilemmas in Urban Policy-Making
Learning critical realist research by example
Interdisciplinarity, Ecology and Scientific Theory
Evaluating the effectiveness of impact assessment instruments
| Citations per year | 0.39 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2008 - 2020 (13) |
| Highly cited | No |