This primer highlights both the strengths and the limitations of benefit-cost analysis in the development, design, and implementation of regulatory reform.

This book discusses the current topic of Federal Government regulations increasingly assessed by asking whether the benefits of the regulation justifies the cost of the regulation.

Canada's federal regulatory policy contains mandatory requirements that departments and agencies, before sponsoring a regulation, must show that regulation is the best alternative and that the regulatory program is structured to maximise the gains to beneficiaries in relation to costs to Canadians. This document is a guide to the use of cost benefit analysis for demonstrating that a proposed regulation maximises net benefit. It reviews how cost benefit analysis fits into the regulatory process, provides a framework for choosing regulatory and non-regulatory alternatives, and describes the type and level of analysis that must be completed before preparing Regulatory Impact Analysis Statements. The guide ends with sections on evaluating impacts to business, consumer impact assessment, evaluation of risk and uncertainty, cost estimation, discounting, and evaluation of environmental quality & other public goods.

Teaching Benefit-Cost Analysis provides detail and inspiration that extends and clarifies standard textbooks. Each short, self-contained module includes guidance to additional sources while many also provide class exercises. Classes for advanced undergraduates, practitioners, or Masters students could especially apply these tools of the trade.