Benefit-Cost Analysis
Environmental regulations can correct harmful market failures, but almost always come with a price. Policymakers often conduct benefit–cost analyses to help balance environmental goals with economic growth. Experts at RFF have produced a rich body of work on the measuring of both benefits and costs, as well evaluating how such analyses are conducted in practice.
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Media Highlight — Nov 10, 2023
E&E News: “White House Overhaul Paves Way for Stricter Regulations”
RFF President and CEO Richard G. Newell comments on the White House's revised method for agencies to weigh regulatory costs and benefits.
Media Highlight — Nov 10, 2023
E&E News: “Will Biden’s Rulemaking Revisions Last?”
RFF President and CEO Richard G. Newell shares his thoughts on the US Office of Management and Budget's much-anticipated update to its cost-benefit analysis calculations.
Media Highlight — Nov 9, 2023
The Hill: “White House Finalizes Guidance Expected to Result in Stricter Regulations”
RFF President and CEO Richard G. Newell provides insight into new guidance about how the US government makes regulatory decisions.
Journal Article — May 25, 2023
US Benefit-Cost Analysis Requires Revision
A letter published in the journal Science makes the case for updating benefit-cost analysis to follow the best available data and methods for determining discount rates.
Journal Article — May 25, 2023
US Benefit-Cost Analysis Requires Revision
A letter published in the journal Science makes the case for updating benefit-cost analysis to follow the best available data and methods for determining discount rates.
Working Paper — May 10, 2023
Retrospective Analysis of Environmental Regulations
This summary describes the results of seven new quantitative analyses of major federal environmental regulations.
Working Paper — May 10, 2023
Looking Back at the Effectiveness of Federal Environmental Regulations
Through seven new quantitative analyses, Resources for the Future explores the extent to which proposed benefits from federal environmental regulations have actually been realized.
Testimony and Public Comments — Apr 28, 2023
Comments to OMB on Expert Peer Reviewers for the Revision to Circular A-4
To the Office of Management and Budget on nominations of experts to participate in the scientific peer review of proposed revisions to Circular A-4.
RFF Live — Apr 11, 2023
Modernizing Regulatory Review: Exploring OMB’s Updated Benefit-Cost Guidance
Modernizing Regulatory Review: Exploring OMB’s Updated Benefit-Cost Guidance
Workshop — Mar 30, 2022
Looking Back: Using Retrospective Analysis to Improve Federal Environmental Regulation
A workshop featuring "ex post" analyses of the benefits and costs of federal environmental regulations
Policy Leadership Series — Aug 30, 2021
Policy Leadership Series with EPA Administrator Michael Regan
A conversation with the 16th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency about the goals he has set during his first year as the head of the agency
Environmental Justice Series — Jul 21, 2021
Environmental Justice: Infrastructure Investments and Equitable Benefit-Cost Analysis
Environmental Justice: Infrastructure Investments and Equitable Benefit-Cost Analysis
Resources Magazine — Oct 21, 2021
Improving Discounting in the Social Cost of Carbon
The social cost of carbon (SCC) is a critical number for the influence it can have on US climate policies and regulations. New RFF research aims to improve the SCC by carefully and empirically determining the most appropriate discount rate.
Resources Radio — Jun 29, 2021
Integrating the Real World into Climate Policy Models, with Wei Peng
Wei Peng discusses how existing climate policy models can better account for real-world political challenges.
Resources Magazine — Feb 25, 2021
Plugging Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells: What We Know and Need to Know
New research explores how a federal well plugging effort can help create jobs, reduce methane emissions, and improve public health—particularly if policymakers have access to the information they need.
Resources Magazine — Feb 25, 2021
How Permanently Can One Presidential Administration Impact Environmental Policy?
The Trump administration has reshaped how environmental regulations are implemented and how benefit-cost analyses are conducted. RFF’s Art Fraas and Richard D. Morgenstern debate how enduring these changes will be.
Media Highlight — Nov 10, 2023
E&E News: “White House Overhaul Paves Way for Stricter Regulations”
RFF President and CEO Richard G. Newell comments on the White House's revised method for agencies to weigh regulatory costs and benefits.
Media Highlight — Nov 10, 2023
E&E News: “Will Biden’s Rulemaking Revisions Last?”
RFF President and CEO Richard G. Newell shares his thoughts on the US Office of Management and Budget's much-anticipated update to its cost-benefit analysis calculations.
Media Highlight — Nov 9, 2023
The Hill: “White House Finalizes Guidance Expected to Result in Stricter Regulations”
RFF President and CEO Richard G. Newell provides insight into new guidance about how the US government makes regulatory decisions.
Media Highlight — Apr 18, 2023
The Hill: "White House Issues Reforms to Regulatory Process"
RFF's Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement, Billy Pizer, discusses the Office of Management and Budget's new rule proposals in a widely syndicated news article.