A Benefit-Cost Analysis of Air Pollution Abatement

A decision to abate pollution involves a substantial commitment of society's resources. Benefit-cost analysis provides a systematic framework within which to estimate the cost to society of committing these resources to pollution abatement and the benefit to society of pollution abatement. A benefit-cost framework for air pollution abatement is set out and some of the difficulties in estimating costs and benefits are elucidated along with some rough costs.