title: On the possibility of a bridge between CBA and CEA: comments on a paper by Dolan and Edlin.
abstract: In a recent work by Dolan and Edlin, it is concluded that no link can be established between cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). However, the conclusion seems to depend rather heavily on what is understood by a link between CBA and CEA as well as on the exact meaning of the latter two terms. We argue that there is at least one approach to CBA and CEA in which the two are very intimately linked. On the other hand, the limitations in the access to preference information has consequences for the kind of questions that can be meaningfully addressed in both CBA and CEA.
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Business School, Institute of Economics, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark. boh.eco@cbs.dk
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hougaard
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keiding
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Østerdal
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005382:Financing, Personal; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D017059:Models, Econometric; D017150:Public Sector / Q000191:economics; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012306:Risk; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000191:economics*; D026712:Value of Life / Q000191:economics