Topic- Need ASAP 2 hours
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CBA Term Paper Submission Guide
Submission of a term paper implies that the work is original and not copied from another project.
Plagiarism will cause a term paper grade of F.
All manuscripts should be prepared in MS-Word format. If you have any questions, please contact Dr.
Howell.
General
Language
Please write your text in good English
Length of paper
12 pages (Double space) not including the title/ cover page and list of references.
Title Page
Title page is a separated page before the text. Provide the following information on the title page (in the
order given). It should include:
Title
Concise and informative.
Author’s name
Please indicate the given name and family name clearly. Present the authors' major, e-mail address, and
telephone number.
Instructor’s name
Dr. Maribel M. Howell
General Rules for Text
Please use the following rules for whole text, including the abstract, headings and references.
Font: Times New Roman; Size: 12
Heading 1: Times New Roman; Size-12; Bold
Heading 2: Times New Roman; Size-12; Italic
Heading 3: Times New Roman; Size-12
Preparation of text
Abstract
A concise and factual abstract is required (maximum length of 150 words). The abstract should state
briefly the content of the paper. An abstract is often presented separate from the article, so it must be able
to stand alone.
Figures, tables, charts, and graphs
Standard format for charts is for the title at the top as well.
Figure titles are standard at the bottom of the graph. However, many current graphics software packages
force titles at the top, so this could change as a matter of expediency.
Tables, charts and graphs should "stand alone."
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Titles should be explanatory; they should be presented such that readers can read and understand them
independent of the text. All units should be specified. All columns, axes, and so on should be clearly
labeled.
Formula
The text size of formula should be similar with normal text size.
References
Citations in the text
Please ensure that every reference cited in the text is also present in the reference list (and vice versa).
Avoid citation in the abstract.
List
References should be arranged first alphabetically and then further sorted chronologically if necessary.
Format
Use the reference style sheet.
Topics
You are free to choose any topic of interest to you. However, I will have to approve the topic before you
start working on the project. Each student in the course selects a topic of interest to them
(policy/program/project), and prepares a paper on that topic using insights from the course, their own
experience, and data gathered from as many sources as you can. A key element of the paper is to apply
concepts and principles of benefit-cost analysis discussed in the course. A typical paper is a CBA of a
project.
CBAs are usually done for projects with social impacts (with a number of individuals affected), for
example, a project for a community, city, state, or nation. Topics for personal projects such as which car
to buy, renovating your house, etc. will not be approved.
Term Paper’s Format: The paper is to contain at a minimum: 1) Cover page, 2) Introduction 3)
Discussion, 4) Conclusions, and 5) References. I would use the nine basic steps of CBA discussed in
Chapter 1 as guide on writing the paper. The length of the paper is 12 pages (excluding the cover page
and list of references). The paper is to be typed double-spaced and turned in on December 5. CANVAS
Turnitin must be used to submit the paper. Emailed submissions will not be accepted.
Previous Student Topics
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Smoking Cessation: Madison County Perspective
Gambling: A Cost-Benefit Analysis
CBA of Recycling in Huntsville
A Cost Benefit Analysis of a Permanent Lighting System for a Small Community Recreational
Center in Harford County Maryland
Cost Benefit Analysis U.S. Household Residential Lighting: Incandescent versus LED
Energy Efficiency in the Home with ENERGY STAR Products:
A Cost Benefit Analysis for Alabama
A CBA Analysis of Implementing a Hydrogen Infrastructure for Vehicle Transport
A CBA of a New Commuter Rail System for the Atlanta Georgia Suburbs
Willingness to Pay for a Park
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Airline Cell Phone Costs: CBA
Construction of a Community Swimming Pool: A Cost-Benefit Analysis
The Choice of Immunization: A Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cost Benefit Analysis of Florida’s Proposed High Speed Rail System
CBA of Alabama State Funded Lottery
CBA of Legalizing Medical Marijuana
CBA of Upgrading to LED Street Lights
Construction Project of an Aerial Gondola between Rosslyn And Georgetown: a CBA
Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Proposed Additional Nature Trail Connecting Chancellor’s Run
Cost Benefit Analysis: Barnes Boulevard Widening Project
A CBA of the Hyperloop as a New Mode of Transportation in California
A Cost Benefit Analysis of Bringing Uber to Huntsville
Solar Streetlight Conversion: A Cost Benefit Analysis
CBA of a Shortened Full-Time Work Week
Cost Benefit Analysis of the Harry Nice Bridge Improvement Project
A CBA Project Proposal is required on October and will be assigned as a homework. The final
project is 25% of your course grade. CBA Projects will be graded based on content/ writing (20%),
quantity and quality of data used (30%), application of lessons learned and analysis (50%).
Writing Tips:
Start your data research early and make sure information/ data is available for your topic.
Choose a topic with social impacts.
Cite the sources of your information in your discussion.
Use tables to present data and analysis.
Monetize all impacts, including non-monetary benefits and costs. Discuss how you got your
impact valuation. Use value is a major benefit for social programs.
Include a sensitivity analysis.
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Abstract Samples
Abstract 1
In a world of fast-developing technology and increased usage of social media, there seems to be an app
for everything and a way to stay connected to everyone around us. This phenomenon has come to include
transportation. Uber, a network transportation company, offers a more favorable alternative to the
traditional for-hire transportation services, such as taxis. This innovative approach to ordering a ride
both meets the modern desire for quick service and stimulates the economy, while maintaining
environmental and safety standards. The Cost Benefit Analysis in this paper will compare Uber to the
existing taxi services in Huntsville. If the benefits outweigh the costs, Uber will offer a newer, better
mode of transportation in Huntsville that will provide jobs and improve safety on the road.
Abstract 2
An in medias res cost benefit analysis was conducted on the Barnes Boulevard roadway expansion project
in Rockledge, FL in which construction commenced in late 2014. The analysis is provided by an
external party with no standing or potential to impact future resource allocation or project continuation.
Agencies with standing include the state of Florida, Brevard County and the City of Rockledge. Benefit
impact categories assessed include time savings, safety savings and salvage or residual value of the
roadway. Cost impact categories were analyzed using construction and maintenance costs. Useful life
of the analysis is twenty years and all impact categories are discounted at a standard rate of 4%. Net
social benefits for the roadway expansion are positive with the highest NPV in the City of Rockledge.
A sensitivity analysis concluded NPV may be understated, furthering the decision to proceed with the
project.
Abstract 3
This paper provides a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) on converting an existing outdoor multi-purpose
natural turf playing field to artificial turf. Impacts considered in this analysis include: construction,
maintenance, and field usage. This research focuses on impacts sustained by municipalities maintaining
a multi-purpose playing field over a 20 year period and the social impacts on usage during the same time
frame. Both natural and artificial turf surfaces are compared. Frequency of use and availability of the
field is also considered in the analysis of impacts. Using research of previously published works and
interviews with municipal workers using and maintaining an artificial turf field, the author uses methods
associated with cost-benefit analysis to compare costs versus benefits in converting an existing natural
turf field to artificial turf. Projected costs and benefits are converted to present values and discounted
over a 20 year period. Growth rates are applied to the annual net benefits. The general findings in this
analysis indicate that converting natural turf to artificial turf provides a significant savings in total cost
over a 20 year period. Artificial turf fields also have the ability to provide more playing time due to
inclement weather which increases the total benefit of the field. Artificial turf fields have the ability to
produce a positive Net Social Benefit (NSB) over a 20 year life.
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Abstract 4
A cost-benefit analysis was performed on a policy mandating reduced-hour work weeks. Two
alternatives were compared to the hypothetical of a 5-day, 40-hour work week. The first is a 5-
day, 30-hour work week, where a person works 6 hours a day instead of 8. The other is a 4-day,
32-hour work week, where a person works the standard 8 hours for 4 days of the week. In both
cases, analysis shows that a reduced-hour work week would be highly beneficial to society,
especially in terms of free time and health benefits. However, a more detailed analysis is
recommended, in order to ensure the accuracy of the results and to choose one of the proposed
schedules over the other.
Abstract 5
This paper examines whether replacing the Harry Nice Bridge will provide social benefits to the
residents of Maryland and Virginia using cost benefit analysis. This cost benefit analysis is an in
medias res and will follow the nine steps of a cost benefit analysis using information and data
specific to the project. Of the 14 alternatives available, the constituents with standing in Maryland
and Virginia chose alternative 7. The benefit impact categories included travel cost savings, vehicle
cost savings, safety benefits, and toll revenues. Cost impact categories consisted of construction as
well as operations and maintenance. The discount rate used was 1.25 percent while the growth rate
used was the average for Maryland and Virginia at 2.60 percent. With a useful life of 45 years, the
NPV was found to be positive. The sensitivity analysis gave greater insight as to under what
conditions the NPV for the project becomes negative.
Abstract 6
Charter schools are not a new concept but in the past few years it is idea that has started to take root
more and more. This is due to the fact the public education is over regulated and fewer students fit
into the mold that such a system produces. Parents are now turning to alternate forms of education,
frequently looking for something that is better suited to their child. Often this search leads to a
charter school and the following analysis will show whether it is advantageous to start a charter high
school where an elementary school once was, or if it is more beneficial to leave all student’s
education in the hands of the local public high school.