This work investigates the efficacy and application of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) as a decision-making tool within multi-level governance structures in the European Union and the United States. Alessandro Ferrara, an expert in public economics and policy evaluation, examines how different political frameworks influence the implementation of investment policies. The book argues that while CBA provides a standardized metric for efficiency, its utility is heavily mediated by the specific institutional constraints and political objectives inherent in federal and supranational systems.

Experts identify this text as a rigorous contribution to the field of public policy evaluation, particularly for those interested in the intersection of economics and federalism. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which is best suited for academic researchers and policy practitioners.