Soderbergkriteerit

Soderbergkriteerit refers to a set of principles or guidelines developed by Swedish economist Sune Soderberg concerning the economic evaluation of public projects. These criteria are designed to ensure that public investments are undertaken only when they offer a net benefit to society. The core of the Soderbergkriteerit lies in considering the opportunity cost of resources used in public projects, meaning that the value of the best alternative use of those resources must be accounted for.

A key aspect of the Soderbergkriteerit is the emphasis on a thorough cost-benefit analysis. This analysis aims to quantify both the positive and negative impacts of a project, expressed in monetary terms where possible. Benefits typically include increased efficiency, improved welfare, or economic growth, while costs encompass direct expenditures, environmental damage, and any negative social consequences. The Soderbergkriteerit advocate for a comprehensive assessment that goes beyond mere financial profitability.

Furthermore, these criteria often involve considerations of equity and distributional effects. While a project might yield a positive net benefit for society as a whole, its impacts may be unevenly distributed among different groups. The Soderbergkriteerit suggest that decision-makers should be aware of these distributional consequences and potentially adjust projects or implement compensatory measures to ensure fairness. The ultimate goal is to guide public spending towards projects that maximize societal well-being.