Re: Authority of the marketplace?

[Bemmzim]

In a message dated 7/17/01 12:57:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

<< I think it is important to recognize that while
 it is appropriate to argue that a particular cost-benefit analysis is
 flawed by not accounting for all costs or all benefits - this argument
 should in no way impugn the underlying validity of makign cost-benefit
 analyses in the first place. >>

But cost benefit is very tricky because of the definition of these terms and 
length of time one wants to play out cost benefit. Secondary tertiary and 
quadinary costs may be present that may not become apparent for years and may 
be impossible to identify a priori. In biology cost benefit is much easier in 
a way because all is short term (success is determined by how many offspring 
I produce or more  correctly how many off spring my off spring produce).