How suitable is CBA for the ex-ante evaluation of transport projects and policies? A discussion from the perspective of ethics

Nowadays in most western countries CBA is the standard method to ex-ante evaluate transport policy options. Despite its popularity CBA has often been criticized for several reasons, most of them related to the utilitarian perspective and related ethical considerations. This paper gives an overview of ethically relevant critics on CBA. Rather than rejecting CBA as the method to be preferred the paper concludes that researchers should be aware of its limitations and gives guidance on how to deal with the weaknesses of CBA from an ethical point of view.

► CBA has often been criticized for ignoring ethical issues.
► The paper summarizes critics from an ethical perspective.
► Researchers should be aware of the limitations of CBA.
► The author does not reject CBA.