Conclusion

In the context of complex policy problems and a scarcity of resources available for their redress, cost–benefit analysis (CBA) provides a transparent and potentially important source of evidence for policy makers in prioritizing interventions. However, in both developed and developing countries, CBA has rarely been used to prioritize environmental health interventions (EHIs). The objective of this book is to provide a comprehensive guide to CBA of EHIs using an interdisciplinary approach. Each chapter of the book summarizes existing evidence on a specific issue of CBA, including the monetary valuation of health outcomes, the different discounting approaches, and the management of uncertainty in the results of economic evaluation. This chapter concludes the book highlighting the need for further research on two important topics: the need to account for equity in CBA and the valuation of children’s welfare in CBA.