Economic assessment and analysis
The Institute works with clients to identify and assess the social, environmental and economic costs and benefits for a range of policies and programmes. Responding to the client's objectives, we apply cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit principles to our projects. Estimating and including the costs of environmental externalities is at the core of our practice.
By taking an integrated approach, we are uniquely positioned to link our economic research and analytical tools with community consultation as well as technical/ biophysical modeling. This enables us to rigorously assess impacts of projects, programmes and policies on industry, government and community sectors - and to communicate analysis is to key stakeholders.
We have experience and expertise in economic assessment across sustainability issues including:
- Portfolio analysis based on least-cost planning (Integrated Resource Planning) for the urban water, transport and energy sectors
- Valuation of catchments and rivers, using willingness-to-pay techniques, deliberative forums and bullterrier approaches
- Best-practice costing of assets, projects and programs in the water industry
- Evaluation of waste management policies
- Review and analysis of the effectiveness of urban demand management policies and programmes across Australia
- Evaluation of the costs and benefits of sustainability initiatives within urban developments
- Valuation of the public good contribution of community facilities and services
- Evaluation of climate change impacts of various programmes
- Environmental cost/ benefit accounting and reporting
- Trade liberalization and tariffs
