Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) Builder

An Economics Network funded project, 2010-11

Institution: Nottingham Trent University
Project leader: Dr Dan Wheatley

‘Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) Builder’ is an electronic web-based interactive teaching and learning resource, which can be used by students to aid in their understanding of cost benefit analysis including: how it works, how to construct a cost benefit analysis, applying values to costs/benefits, how to perform discounting, and the limitations of CBA.

In summary, the main objectives of the project are to:

1. Create a free to use web-based resource for teaching and learning of CBA.
2. Create an interactive resource for teaching CBA which provides
   1. an in-depth database of CBA information;
   2. hands-on experience with worked examples drawing on real data;
   3. the ability to create your own simple and advanced CBA, and;
   4. downloadable exercises/worksheets.
3. Create a resource which can be used in formative and non-formative assessment.
4. Improve student engagement with CBA through new methods of teaching and learning.
5. Improve student employability through improved knowledge of a common method of project appraisal used in both the public and private sector.

Outputs

• Online text, interactive spreadsheets and flash animations at cbabuilder.co.uk
• Case study: Developing a teaching & learning resource for Cost Benefit Analysis
• Final report
• Conference presentation at DEE 2011