Expected outcomes: utility, welfare, effect etc. (e.g. CEA, CBA)


Standard ex-ante methods for ranking options are CBA, MEA and MCA. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA), cost-effective analysis (CEA) and multi-criteria analysis (MCA) are each methods for selecting an option from a set. The criteria for selecting between CBA, CEA and MCA is based on which outcome attributes are of interest to the decision maker. If all attributes can be assigned one common attribute of money, then CBA is appropriate. If only one of the attributes cannot be assigned a money attribute, then CEA is appropriate. When two or more attributes cannot be assigned a common money attribute (and also cannot be expressed in one common attribute) MCA is appropriate.
After finishing this step, you should return to the Adaptation Pathfinder's entry point.
To main entry point selector

AP interactive decision tree - click any node to select it

Standard ex-ante methods for ranking options are CBA, MEA and MCA. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA), cost-effective analysis (CEA) and multi-criteria analysis (MCA) are each methods for selecting an option from a set. The criteria for selecting between CBA, CEA and MCA is based on which outcome attributes are of interest to the decision maker. If all attributes can be assigned one common attribute of money, then CBA is appropriate. If only one of the attributes cannot be assigned a money attribute, then CEA is appropriate. When two or more attributes cannot be assigned a common money attribute (and also cannot be expressed in one common attribute) MCA is appropriate.

MEDIATION Toolbox

Read more in the Toolbox under the following category:

Formal decision-analysis

Toolbox detail page(s) available for:

Adaptation decision matrix
Cost benefit analysis (CBA)
Cost effectiveness analysis (CEA)
Multicriteria Analysis (MCA)
Case steps (Europe)

Case study steps identified for task 'Expected outcomes: utility, welfare, effect etc. (e.g. CEA, CBA)'.

SE4 - Guadalquivir basin
What are the most appropriate adaptation strategies to ensure the maintenance of agricultural activity while preserving the environment in the rural areas?
External cases (global)


This section is based on the UNEP PROVIA guidance document


Criteria checklist

1. You want to appraise adaptation options.
2. The focus is either on collective actions and there are no conflicting interests of private actors, or the focus is on individual collective actions.
3. Decisions can be formalised.
4. Either the set of options includes only short term ones or residual impacts can not be projected.
5. There are risks are due to current climate variability.
6. The relative costs of outcomes are high.
7. Valuation has been addressed.
Training material