Cost-Benefit Analysis

What We Do

We help clients determine whether the expected benefits of a project or program justify its costs. Our cost-benefit analyses translate diverse outcomes—time savings, health improvements, environmental effects, revenue generation—into comparable terms so that decision-makers can weigh trade-offs systematically.

We calculate standard metrics like benefit-cost ratios, net present value, and internal rates of return. But we go beyond the numbers: we identify which assumptions drive the results, test how sensitive conclusions are to changes in those assumptions, and clearly communicate what the analysis can and cannot tell you.

Our Approach

We build cost-benefit models that are rigorous but transparent. Every assumption is documented. Sensitivity analysis identifies the variables that matter most. Scenario modeling shows how results change under optimistic, expected, and pessimistic conditions.

We're careful about what we monetize and how. Some benefits are straightforward to value; others require judgment calls that should be made explicit rather than buried in methodology. Our goal is an analysis that informs decisions honestly, not one that produces a predetermined answer.

Applications

Our cost-benefit work spans infrastructure investments, regulatory impact assessment, program evaluation, and capital planning. We've supported analyses for public sector clients evaluating proposed investments, private developers seeking zoning or financing approvals, and nonprofits making the case for program funding.