As they embraced benefit-cost analysis during the mid twentieth century, economists faced several challenges. One challenge was to reconcile two visions for the place of the economist in policy analysis, one limited to providing positive analysis for decision-makers, the other allowing normative...

For 20 years acid rain in the Adirondack Park has been a central issue in the debate about clean air regulation. Based on a contingent valuation survey of New York residents, our study quantifies the total economic value of expected ecological improvements in the park from forthcoming policies....