Evolving Cuban-CARICOM relations : a comparative cost/benefit analysis

1995 ◽  
Vol 69 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 45-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Erisman

Survey of the basic developmental dynamics involved in the evolving Cuban-CARICOM relationship. On the basis of a cost-risk/benefit analysis, the author provides some projections regarding the future of this relationship. He concludes that there appear sufficient potential benefits for both sides to deepen the relationship. Cuban-CARICOM integration, however, has no top priority for either partner.

1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (11) ◽  
pp. 41-44

The relationship between drug costs and treatment choices was the subject of the first annual Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin symposium held in March 1993.* In a time of severe financial constraints for the NHS it is important that the money available is well spent. In the case of treatment that means the benefits must be worth the cost. There is, however, no agreed way of deciding when a particular health benefit to an individual is worth the cost to the NHS. Drug prices are easier to measure and more consistent than the prices of other treatments, and may be more amenable to cost-benefit analysis. Treatment choices are made primarily by doctors but with critical input from patients, pharmacists, nurses and health service managers. In this article we give an overview of the symposium at which speakers described ways in which drug costs and treatment choices were tackled in general practice (Ann McPherson, John Howie), in hospital (Dorothy Anderson), in clinical research and audit (Iain Chalmers, Alison Frater), by consumers (Anna Bradley), by health economists (Mike Drummond) and by government (Joe Collier). We also take into account points raised in discussion by the participants.


Author(s):  
Hubert Vasseur ◽  
Thomas R. Kurfess ◽  
Jonathan Cagan

Abstract Due to several possible production modes, an industrial output may have different quality levels. Production processes and quality assurance plans are chosen and adjusted, generally as a lagged reaction to customers’ input and competitors’ strategy. Different techniques based on cost benefit analysis have existed to assess beforehand the overall benefits to society of such decisions; however, these techniques do not necessarily provide any insight as to the resulting influence on corporate profits. This paper reviews different perspectives on industrial quality and adopts a formalism in which social and corporate optimum can be compared from an engineering standpoint. The potential benefits for a manufacturer to improve the quality of its products are studied under several market conditions. The incentive is the strongest in a competitive environment where the benefits of quality innovation are twofold: quality innovation increases consumers’ demand and allows the manufacturer to keep more substantial profit margins.


Author(s):  
Lucas E. Yamat ◽  
Claude G. Mung'ong'o

Abstract Despite a growing body of evidence that highlights the economic, social and environmental benefits of mobile pastoralism, few governments are ready to tolerate mobility and many policy makers promote knowingly or inadvertently the policies of sedentarization. This production system seems not to be clearly understood by many and has been characterized as backward, environmentally destructive and economically unsustainable; and the view is that it should be replaced with more sedentary forms of livestock production or other beneficial land uses. The overriding question is whether sedentary livestock keeping is more productive and utilizes fewer resources and less space than the mobile pastoral system. This study carried out a comparative cost-benefit analysis of the two production systems in selected villages of Kiteto and Karatu districts. The aim was to come up with credible data to test this hypothesis. Two alternatives were compared in terms of their net present value (NPV) to test a null hypothesis. The alternative with an NPV greater than zero or higher than its alternative was accepted to be more viable compared with the one with an NPV less than zero or less than its alternative. Whenever the NPV of the sedentary production system in the analysis was shown to be greater than zero and/or greater than the NPV of the mobile pastoral production system the null hypothesis was accepted and vice versa. The study was conducted in Makame village of Kiteto District and Dofa village of Karatu District. Makame village represents a mobile pastoral production system while Dofa village represents a sedentary production system. The study employed a quantitative approach using a household survey in the two villages. The comparative cost-benefit analysis was carried out using monetary values derived from the livestock unit statistical approach. The findings have revealed that the average cost of maintaining a mobile pastoral and sedentary production systems are TSh90,096,333 and TSh112,295,200, respectively. The cost-benefit ratios are 1:0.5 for a mobile pastoral production system and 1:0.25 for the sedentary one.


Author(s):  
Trinh Phuong Ngoc ◽  
Hoang Xuan Co

The study focuses on assessing the effectiveness of bauxite mining and processing in the Central Highlands through the example of Tan Rai (Lam Dong) and Nhan Co (Dak Nong) bauxite-alumina complexes by the method of extended cost benefit analysis. External costs have been localized to be taken into account, including opportunity costs, environmental costs, corporate social responsibility costs and contingency costs for environmental incidents. The results showed that if calculating the environmental costs, the Tan Rai complex does not bring effectiveness for society with a negative NPV value (VND -5,167,422 million), IRR (6.27%) is lower than the discount (10%); Nhan Co complex is effective with positive NPV (VND 145,862 million), IRR (10.1%) is higher than the discount (10%), but the operation of this complex is risky when analyzing the sensitivity of the indicators. A ton of alumina will require an average from VND 0.7 to 0.9 million of environmental costs. In a year, two bauxite-alumina complexes in the Central Highlands create stable jobs for thousands of workers, contributing from VND 1,200 to 1,400 billion of taxes and fees for the State, equivalent to between VND 1.0 and 1.2 million per ton of alumina. From the lessons learned from Tan Rai and Nhan Co complexes, the future bauxite mining and processing projects need to be implemented on schedule and operate at 100% of the designed capacity right from the first year to achieve optimal efficiency. In the future, it is necessary to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of closed, full and chain options to improve the operational efficiency of bauxite projects, aiming to thoroughly solve the environmental issues by improving technological processes, implementing land restoration after mining, applying cleaner production solutions.


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