ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some of the basic assumptions of cost-benefit analysis and its main problems from the perspective of ethics. It looks at radiation protection as an example of a field where both cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis have been applied, and cost-effectiveness of radiation and chemical protection measures. Estimates have been produced for the protection against many different environmental health risks, as well as for various measures of transport safety, of workplace security, and of health care, and in some cases for different areas of the world. Cost-benefit analysis is based on assumptions and premises characteristic of utilitarian ethics. Cost-effectiveness analysis is very much focused on justice, especially justice as a fair distribution between people affected by similar risks. Cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis are quite similar as far as prudence is concerned. At first sight, cost-effectiveness analysis seems very similar to cost-benefit analysis.
