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Guide to COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS of investment projects - Ramiri

Guide to COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS of investment projects - Ramiri

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ANNEX HRISK ASSESSMENTIn ex-ante project analysis it is necessary <strong>to</strong> forecast the future value <strong>of</strong> variables, with an unavoidable degree <strong>of</strong>uncertainty. Uncertainty arises either because <strong>of</strong> fac<strong>to</strong>rs internal <strong>to</strong> the project (as, for example, the value <strong>of</strong> timesavings, the timing <strong>of</strong> the completion <strong>of</strong> the <strong>investment</strong> etc.) or because <strong>of</strong> fac<strong>to</strong>rs external <strong>to</strong> the project (forexample, the future prices <strong>of</strong> inputs and outputs <strong>of</strong> the project).Risk assessment, in the broad sense, requires:- sensitivity analysis;- probability distribution <strong>of</strong> critical variables;- risk analysis;- assessment <strong>of</strong> acceptable levels <strong>of</strong> risk;- risk prevention.Sensitivity analysisSensitivity analysis can be helpful in identifying the most critical variables <strong>of</strong> a specific project. See Chapter 2 for thesuggested approach.Probability distribution <strong>of</strong> critical variablesOnce the critical variables have been identified, then, in order <strong>to</strong> determine the nature <strong>of</strong> their uncertainty,probability distributions should be defined for each variable. A distribution describes the likelihood <strong>of</strong> occurrence <strong>of</strong>values <strong>of</strong> a given variable within a range <strong>of</strong> possible values.There are two main categories <strong>of</strong> probability distribution in literature:- ‘Discrete probability distribution’: when only a finite number <strong>of</strong> values can occur;- ‘Continuous probability distribution’: when any value within the range can occur.Discrete distributionsIf a variable can assume a set <strong>of</strong> discrete values, each <strong>of</strong> them associated <strong>to</strong> a probability, then it is defined as discretedistribution. This kind <strong>of</strong> distribution may be used when the analyst has enough information about the variable <strong>to</strong> bestudied, <strong>to</strong> believe that it can assume only some specific values.Figure H.1 Discrete distribution0.200.150.100.050.004 6 8 10 12 14 16Continuous distributionGaussian (or Normal) distribution is perhaps the most important and the most frequently used probabilitydistribution. This distribution is completely defined by two parameters:- the mean (μ),- the standard deviation (σ).234

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