[Socioeconomic cost-effectiveness analysis--occupational rehabilitation between effectiveness and social...

The fundamental question in case of planning projects of the state is which pros and cons are involved in their realization. Public projects take up a lot of social resources which hence are no longer available for other purposes--especially when you look at existing budgetary limits. A decision in favour of one specific project always implies a decision against some other project. A classical method to evaluate public projects is the cost-benefit analysis, which leads a shadowy existence owing to its difficulties in practical application (first and foremost in identifying and quantifying). In this article a possible application for cost-benefit analysis is demonstrated on the example of an institution for initial vocational training of young people with disabilities or at risk of becoming disabled. The main point here is to widen the focus from simply looking at fiscal expenses, revenues and savings towards also taking notice of social, psychological and health orientated facts. In this view it is very consequent to enlarge the "normal" economic balance sheet by drawing up a special social balance sheet which illustrates advantages and disadvantages difficult to measure at a monetary basis. A comprehensive decision basis is thereby achieved considering "both sides of the medal".