Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 126-143).

Bensinpriset i Sverige har den senaste tiden stigit kraftigt och åsikterna går isär om huruvida detta ska uppfattas som positivt eller negativt för samhället. Denna studie kartlägger de samhällsekonomiska effekterna av ett högre bensinpris och studerar skillnaden i resultat mellan en oljeprisbaserad bensinprisökning och en bensinprisökning som grundar sig på en högre bensinskatt. I en cost-benefit kalkyl har effekter av ett högre bensinpris identifierats och värderats. Resultatet visar att en oljeprisbaserad bensinprishöjning är att uppfatta som negativ för samhället. Även en skattebaserad bensinprishöjning är dock negativ för samhället. En oljeprisbaserad bensinprishöjning åsamkar emellertid samhället en betydligt större nettoförlust än en skattebaserad bensinprishöjning. En marginalkostnadsberäkning har utförts som ett alternativt beräkningssätt av det samhällsekonomiska resultatet av de två olika bensinprishöjningarna. Marginalkostnadsberäkningen uppskattar den samhälleliga marginalkostnaden av en liter bensin till cirka 9,31 kr och att marginalkostnaden ligger under prisnivån bekräftar slutsatsen att ett högre bensinpris är negativt för samhället, då det, vid en bensinskattehöjning, leder till en situation där bensinpriset hamnar längre från det pris som är optimalt för samhället. Vid en oljeprishöjning stiger både pris och marginalkostnad för samhället och att detta scenario är att uppfatta som negativt för samhället beror på att den ökade kostnaden för bensin som betalas av svenska bilister går till utländska oljeproducenter. Slutligen har centrala faktorer i beräkningarna analyserats och diskuterats. Denna diskussion mynnar ut i en rekommendation till vidare forskning mot beräkningsfaktorer som baserar sig på fordonskilometer. / Recently the Swedish gasoline price has risen considerable and the opinions are divided however this should be perceived as positive or negative for society. In this study, the influences of a higher gasoline price on society and the differences between a scenario with a higher oil price and a higher gasoline tax as ground for the rise of prices are studied. Within the frames of a cost-benefit analysis the effects of a higher gasoline price have been identified and valued. The results show that a higher gasoline price based on a higher oil price is negative for a society. A higher gasoline tax causing a higher gasoline price also has negative effects. The latter type of price increase however, causes far less damage than the former. An estimation of marginal cost has been conducted as an alternative calculation of the results. The marginal cost has been estimated to 9,31 SEK and the fact that the marginal cost is below the price level confirms the conclusion that a higher gasoline price, disregarded the cause, is negative for society, since a tax increase will bring a situation where the gasoline price now is situated further from its optimum price. In the case of an increase in oil price, both the marginal cost and the gasoline price increase and that this scenario is negative for society is due to the increasing payments of the Swedish motorists to foreign oil producers. Finally, central factors in the calculations have been discussed and analysed. The discussion has ended in a recommendation of further research with vehicle kilometers as basis of calculation.

Darbo tikslas – įvertinti elektroninio recepto, kaip vieno iš el. sveikatos komponentų, panaudojimo tiesioginius ir netiesioginius kaštus bei galimą naudą. Metodologija: siekiant pasiekti užsibrėžtą tikslą buvo atliekama sisteminė elektroninio recepto ekonominio įvertinimo analizė. Tyrimo metu remtasi kaštų-naudingumo analizės metodologijos gairėmis. Nustatant su tiesioginiais ir netiesioginiais kaštais susijusius kintamuosius, buvo atliktos sveikatos priežiūros specialistų ir įmonių apklausos. Palyginamuoju būdu apskaičiuota galima nauda pacientams. Gauti rezultatai diskontuoti į dabartinę vertinę reikšmę. Atlikta sistemos jautrumo analizė. Rezultatai: Dabar veikiančios receptų sistemos vidutiniai metiniai kaštai sudaro 30.082.691,68 litų. Iš jų 1.489.601,90 litų tenka tiesioginėms išlaidos, o likusioji 28.593.189,71 litų dalis – netiesioginėms išlaidoms. Tarp netiesioginių išlaidų 53,49 proc. sudaro gydytojų darbo laiko išrašant receptus piniginė išraiška, o vaistininkų darbo laiko vertė – 46,51 proc. Elektroninio recepto naudojimo kaštai kasmet sudarytų 19.443.948,08 litus, kurių tarpe 13,85 proc. tenka tiesioginiams kaštams, 86,15 proc. – netiesioginiams kaštams. Tarp netiesioginių išlaidų 63,91 proc. sudaro gydytojų darbo laiko piniginė išraiška, o likusioji dalis - 36.09 proc. vaistininkų darbo laiko vertė. Išvados: Lietuvoje kuriami elektroninio recepto modeliai naudoja naujausias šiuo metu esančias informacines technologijas, turinčias aukščiausius saugumo ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Object: evaluate the costs and impact of electronic prescription running stage for routine operation. Methodology: Systemic analysis of electronic prescription economical evaluation. It was used guidelines of Cost-Benefit analysis methodology. To estimate the parameters of direct and indirect costs it was made questioning of associated health care specialists and companies; for indirect impact for patients – comparative evaluation. All monetary values are converted onto a comparable base by presenting them in present values, using the discounted cash flow technique. The results of the evaluation were tested by a sensitivity analysis. Results: Present average costs per year – 30,082,691.68 litas. 1,489,601.90 litas – directs costs; 28,593,189.71 – indirect costs. Indirect costs consist of 53.49 % - payment issues for physicians and 46.51 % - for pharmacists. The costs of electronic prescription could be 19,443,948.08 litas per year. This consists of 13.85 % direct and 86.15 % indirect costs (63.91 % – payment issues for physicians; 36.09 % - for pharmacists). Conclusions: Present Lithuanian “e-recept” models use the newest information technologies with the highest standards of safety and security. Preferable method of evaluation of electronic prescribing model is Cost-Benefit analysis. In utilization of this method it was counted that electronic prescription system could help minimize direct and indirect cost by 39.43 % per year. All impact of utilization of electronic... [to full text]

Upon completing the construction of the Panama Canal in 1914, vessels sailing between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans were provided an alternative to navigating the southern tip of South America. In order to accommodate future demand of Canal services, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) in 2006 began planning a Canal expansion. The ACP enlisted URS Holdings, Inc to do a social cost-benefit analysis of the project. This thesis thoroughly examines the contents of this analysis and critiques the content and methodology of the study. The URS analysis suffers from numerous problems, including a lack of monetary values for potentially significant social and environmental impacts of the Canal expansion, a failure to distinguish pecuniary versus non-pecuniary externalities, causing the social benefits of the expansion to be grossly overstated and a questionable choice of discount rate which make a more positive picture of the private returns from expanding the Canal.

Energy crops may present an opportunity to reduce Nova Scotia’s Greenhouse Gas emissions by offsetting fossil fuel use and provide economic benefits for farmers. They have also received government policy support. To investigate this opportunity, I conduct a partial social cost-benefit analysis using non-equity weighted monetary valuation of growing switchgrass on inactive and underused farmland in Nova Scotia for local residential heating. The private net benefit for farmers, processors and consumers is estimated between $24.9 million and $209.9 million. I estimate that the external net benefit to society from the potential reduction in GHG emissions (at $50/tonne CO2E) ranges from $11.3 million to $72.2 million. This must be taken with caution as the analysis does not account for the entire ecological footprint of the project. While a net benefit to society is suggested, the paper also points to a need for more research surrounding the life-cycle emissions of energy crops.

Magistro baigiamajame darbe analizuojama socialinio inovacinio projekto ,,Socialinis taksi“ sukurta nauda visuomenei. Pirmoje darbo dalyje pristatoma socialinių inovacinių projektų idėja, aptariama inovacijų situacija Lietuvoje ir projektų vertinimo metodai. Antroje dalyje analizuojamas kaštų naudos analizės atlikimo procesas, pinigų srautų, projekto laikotarpio ir diskonto normos nustatymo problematika, socialinės naudos skaičiavimo būdai. Trečioje dalyje pateikiama projekto naudos visuomenei vertinimo schema, pristatomi tyrimo metu naudoti metodai – interviu, anketavimas, kaštų naudos analizė, jautrumo analizė. Ketvirtoje šio magistrinio darbo dalyje pateikiami respondentų apklausos rezultatai ir jais remiantis atliekamas projekto naudos vertinimas. Darbo pabaigoje pateikiamos išvados ir rekomendacijos. / In this master‘s thesis the benefit created by social innovation project ,,Socialinis taksi“ is calculated. In the first part the idea of social innovation projects is introduced, the situation of innovation in Lithuania is discussed and project evaluation methods are defined. In the second part the process of cost benefit analysis is introduced and the main problems related with determining the period of the project, it‘s cash flow and discount rate are discussed. In the third part the plan for further analysis is set and methods used in the final chapter are presented. In the final chapter the results of the survey are overviewed and cost-benefit analysis is performed. At the end of this paper conclusions are made and recommendations are provided.

Tillage erosion is the dominant soil erosion process in hummocky landscapes. The topsoil lost from the convex upper slope positions (i.e., hilltops knolls, ridges) gradually makes its way to the concave lower slope positions (i.e., foot slopes, toe slopes/depressions), while reducing yield capability in the knolls. The accumulation of topsoil in the concave lower slope positions does not increase yield potential. Landscape restoration is a process by which organic-rich topsoil is removed from lower slope positions and is moved to the knoll positions where it is applied and incorporated as additional topsoil. Field studies on this matter have shown increases in crop yield productivity due to land restoration on the convex upper slope positions. Using a model developed in STELLA ®, this research examines the net monetary benefit of landscape restoration in specific landscape scenarios modeled after areas in Manitoba which are prone to tillage erosion. This study demonstrates that farming operations in hummocky landscapes, experiencing topsoil loss at knolls benefit from landscape restoration as it can lead to positive net returns. In this study, the research shows that landscape restoration, in the Rural Municipality of Lorne (South Western Manitoba), led to revenues greater than restoration costs for arable land used for agricultural purposes. Depending on soil conditions and tillage choices the payback period for landscape restoration ranged from 8 to 18 years.

Varje år ökar antalet äldre personer och i samband med den ökningen blir även antalet äldre personer med körkort allt fler. Med åldern är det vanligt att reaktionsförmåga, syn och hörsel försämras vilka alla är viktiga egenskaper för trafiksäkerheten. Läkare i Sverige är skyldiga att rapportera till Transportstyrelsen om en individ inte anses vara lämplig att köra bil. Att läkare över huvud taget tar upp körkortsfrågan med sina patienter sker endast i 60 procent av fallen och därmed fortsätter många olämpliga körkortsinnehavare att köra bil. Majoriteten av länder inom Europeiska Unionen (EU) har någon form av övre åldersbegränsning i körkorten där körkortsinnehavarna måste genomgå en kontroll för att få körkortet förnyat. Det är endast Sverige och sex andra länder inom EU som inte har någon form av körkortskontroll för äldre och i denna studie kommer en kostnadsnyttoanalys utformas för att ta reda på om kontroller för körkortsinnehavare över 75 år skulle reducera antalet döda och skadade i trafikolyckor och därmed vara samhällsekonomiskt lönsamt. De länder som tillämpar körkortskontroller har olika bestämmelser hur metoderna är utformade och studien tar upp hur det fungerar i några av länderna. Vidare redovisas forskning inom området och resultatet av undersökningar av olika testmetoder. Merparten av forskningsresultaten visar att körkortskontroller inte har någon större effekt på trafiksäkerheten och det går inte med säkerhet att säga hur många liv som räddas och antal skadade som skulle kunna reduceras genom införandet av tester. Därmed har dessa siffror fått antagits utan att ha något säkert underlag och utifrån denna antagning visar kostnadsnyttoanalysen att införandet av körkortskontroller inte skulle generera välfärd i Sverige. Utifrån resultatet går det att dra slutsatsen att Sverige har gjort en god bedömning om att endast ha anmälningsplikt för läkare förutsatt att den följs bättre. Även om resultatet visar att kontroller för personer över 75 år inte ska införas bör ändå trafiksäkerheten för äldre utvecklas genom att till exempel förenkla körningen vid vänstersvängar och förbättra kollektivtrafiken. / The numbers of elderly increase every year and the amount of older people with a license will increase as well. When getting older, it is natural that the reaction time, hearing and vision will change and these are all important features for traffic safety. Doctors in Sweden are required to report to the Swedish Transport Agency if an individual does not seem appropriate to drive. It is not common that doctors ask their patients about their physical health and ability to drive, the questions are only asked in about 60 percent of the physical evaluations and because of that, inappropriate license holders may proceed to use a vehicle. The majority of countries within the European Union embrace some kind of upper age limit to provide drivers with a valid license and several countries have compulsory medical examinations for license holders at a certain age. It is only Sweden together with six other EU countries that does not provide any license controls for elderly and in this study a cost benefit analysis is designed to determine whether controls for drivers over the age of 75 would reduce deaths and injuries caused by traffic accidents and thus increase welfare. The countries that apply driving license controls have different rules how the controls are designed and the study presents how it works in some of the countries. Further, research within the area shows that license controls does not have any sufficient effect on traffic safety. It cannot with certainty be said how many lives are saved and the amount injuries that could be reduced by an introduction of these tests. Thus, these numbers are adopted without any sufficient evidence and from this an assumption of the cost benefit analysis will show that an introduction of license controls would not generate a welfare increase in Sweden. Based on the result it is possible to conclude that Sweden has made a good assessment to have only a reporting requirement for physicians but the reports must be stricter. Although the result shows that license controls for people over the age of 75 should not be imposed, nevertheless traffic safety for elderly should be further developed, for example with simplifying left turns and improve public transportation.

The South African pharmaceutical market is seen as part of the so called "pharmerging" markets, together with countries like India, China and Brazil. These "pharmerging" markets are the fastest growing markets within the global pharmaceutical industry. The distribution of chronic medicine in South Africa is a growing market, as the disease burden in South Africa continues to escalate, with the incidence of chronic conditions growing at a rapid rate. The study will focus on one of South Africa’s pioneer courier medication service providers, with more than twenty years’ experience in the healthcare industry. The company will be referred to as Pharmacy X. The mission of Pharmacy X is to provide the right chronic medication, to the right patient, at the right place, at the right time. It is imperative to ensure that a patient receives his/her chronic medication on the scheduled date of delivery to ensure compliance and customer satisfaction. To achieve a competitive advantage, companies increasingly depend on their supply chain partners to minimize cost and improve business processes. The core value chain activity of outbound logistics has been outsourced by Pharmacy X to several courier companies. This study will aim to understand the importance of the outbound logistics function within the value chain of the company and the costs involved with the outsourcing of the function. The primary objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of an in-house courier operation in the Bloemfontein area versus the current outsourced courier model. In order to achieve the primary objective of the study, several secondary objectives were set and reached throughout the four chapters of this study. The study applied cost benefit analysis techniques to determine the feasibility of the Bloemfontein courier investment project. All the cost benefit analysis techniques concluded that the Bloemfontein courier investment will be a financial viable operation. The Bloemfontein courier investment will increase shareholder value over the period of the project compared to the current outsourced model. The contribution of this case study to determine the feasibility of a courier operation investment can be of value to Pharmacy X. The current projected total courier cost of Pharmacy X for the 2013 financial year amounts to more than a third of the total operational cost. The findings within the case study can lead to a greater national roll out of courier operations in order to reduce costs and increase profit margins for Pharmacy X. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The South African pharmaceutical market is seen as part of the so called "pharmerging" markets, together with countries like India, China and Brazil. These "pharmerging" markets are the fastest growing markets within the global pharmaceutical industry. The distribution of chronic medicine in South Africa is a growing market, as the disease burden in South Africa continues to escalate, with the incidence of chronic conditions growing at a rapid rate. The study will focus on one of South Africa’s pioneer courier medication service providers, with more than twenty years’ experience in the healthcare industry. The company will be referred to as Pharmacy X. The mission of Pharmacy X is to provide the right chronic medication, to the right patient, at the right place, at the right time. It is imperative to ensure that a patient receives his/her chronic medication on the scheduled date of delivery to ensure compliance and customer satisfaction. To achieve a competitive advantage, companies increasingly depend on their supply chain partners to minimize cost and improve business processes. The core value chain activity of outbound logistics has been outsourced by Pharmacy X to several courier companies. This study will aim to understand the importance of the outbound logistics function within the value chain of the company and the costs involved with the outsourcing of the function. The primary objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of an in-house courier operation in the Bloemfontein area versus the current outsourced courier model. In order to achieve the primary objective of the study, several secondary objectives were set and reached throughout the four chapters of this study. The study applied cost benefit analysis techniques to determine the feasibility of the Bloemfontein courier investment project. All the cost benefit analysis techniques concluded that the Bloemfontein courier investment will be a financial viable operation. The Bloemfontein courier investment will increase shareholder value over the period of the project compared to the current outsourced model. The contribution of this case study to determine the feasibility of a courier operation investment can be of value to Pharmacy X. The current projected total courier cost of Pharmacy X for the 2013 financial year amounts to more than a third of the total operational cost. The findings within the case study can lead to a greater national roll out of courier operations in order to reduce costs and increase profit margins for Pharmacy X. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014