ECONOMIC BENEFIT/COST ANALYSIS OF BEACH RENOURISHMENT
WAKEMAN, Douglas J., School of Business, Meredith College, 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5298, wakeman@journeys.net.

An analytical review of economic benefit/cost analysis as applied to beach renourishment projects. As conducted by those with a policy interest in beach renourishment (including but not limited to the Corps of Engineers), benefit/cost analysis of beach renourishment is often fundamentally flawed, leading to economically invalid conclusions. Discussion and examples from recent proposals will illustrate issues including: distinction between financial impact and net economic benefit; linkage between beach tourism and net economic benefit; consideration of a full range of alternatives; discounting (present value); explicit and implicit subsidies; induced behavioral changes; treatment of uncertainty; and sensitivity analysis.

Southeastern Section - 50th Annual Meeting (April 5-6, 2001)
Session No. 8
Beach Nourishment: The Wave of the Future for Erosion Control (Part A)
Sheraton Capital Center Hotel: Hannover Ballroom I/II
8:00 AM-12:00 PM, Thursday, April 5, 2001
 

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