A second group starts from the position that unless policy makers have a
good understanding of the costs and benefits, targets may be set at an inefficient
level. They believe that formal cost-benefit analysis leads to better policy
making, through its transparency and consistency, and its explicit attempt to
assess the optimal policy outcome. The policy recommendation from this group
is to use the SCC estimates across all levels of policy appraisal, including for the
setting of long-term targets as well as detailed, day-to-day project and policy
appraisal.