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There is no such thing as dispassionate cost benefit analysis (or at least, there isn't outside of a very narrow range of specific cases). Cost benefit analysi
by acatnamedjoe 5y ago
There is no such thing as dispassionate cost benefit analysis (or at least, there isn't outside of a very narrow range of specific cases).
Cost benefit analysis for big complex issues like coronavirus requires the identification and quantification of things that are really difficult to identify and quantify, and there's no easy way to do that without some form of subjective value judgement.
CBA done properly is a good way to make these judgements explicit and transparent. CBA done badly is a good way to hide those judgements behind a load of figures. Neither is dispassionate.
- ryathal 5y agoThe entire point of a republic and bureaucracy is to have that dispassionate cost benefit analysis. It's to be done by people that shouldn't be subject to the mob mentality.
- tboyd47 5y agoThe point of a republic is to limit government, not ensure technocrats can never get fired.
- ryathal 5y agoIt's not about not getting fired. It's about having the person that can make the cold dispassionate, but ultimately best choice. If we are still getting decisions based mostly on emotion the usefulness is vastly diminished.