Application of cost benefit analysis to the expanded food and nutrition education program

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan issued Executive Order 12291 which requires Federal agencies to perform benefits assessments of proposed major regulations and prohibits them from taking regulatory action unless potential benefits exceed potential costs to society.

A review of welfare economics literature and applications of the CBA model to health, education, and nutrition is presented. CBA for use in the Cooperative Extension Service Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is then systematically examined using the following criteria: 1) theoretical considerations - can the economic criterion appropriately be applied to EFNEP?; and 2) application of the CBA model - can it be made operational?

Following the critique of application of CBA to EFNEP, conclusions are drawn as to the appropriate use of CBA or alternative techniques in evaluating EFNEP and similar programs.