Benefit-Cost Results
In December 2024, WSIPP will begin archiving certain programs based on the date of their last review since we have not had the opportunity to review these programs in at least ten years. Benefit-cost updates for most other programs will be published in December.
Since the 1990s, the Washington State legislature has directed WSIPP to identify “evidence-based” policies. The goal is to provide Washington policymakers and budget writers with a list of well-researched public policies that can, with a high degree of certainty, lead to better statewide outcomes coupled with a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Research Approach. WSIPP has developed a three-step process to draw conclusions about what works and what does not to achieve particular outcomes of legislative interest. First, we systematically assess all high-quality studies from the United States and elsewhere to identify policy options that have been tested and found to achieve improvements in outcomes. Second, we determine how much it would cost Washington taxpayers to produce the results found in Step 1, and calculate how much it would be worth to people in Washington State to achieve the improved outcome. That is, in dollars and cents terms, we compare the benefits and costs of each policy option. It is important to note that the benefit-cost estimates pertain specifically to Washington State; results will vary from state to state. Third, we assess the risk in the estimates to determine the odds that a particular policy option will at least break even. ...show more
WSIPP acknowledges the MacArthur Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts that have helped fund some of the research reported on this page.
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Overview of WSIPP's Benefit-Cost Model
Estimating Program Effects Using Effect Sizes
For details on our benefit-cost methods, contact Heather Grob or download our Technical Documentation.
Latest Results. The tables on this webpage present our current findings for a variety of public policy topics. Items on these tables are updated periodically as new information becomes available. Interested readers can find more information by clicking each entry in the tables.
Use the search fields below to find specific benefit-cost results that match certain criteria. If you want to find other information on our website that is not benefit-cost results, you can use the search field in the navigation bar at the top, or click here to search the entire website.
Benefit-cost methods last updated December 2023
Current estimates replace old estimates. Numbers will change over time as a result of model inputs and monetization methods.
| Research Area |
Program name (click on the program name for more detail) |
Date of last literature review
|
Total benefits
|
Taxpayer benefits
|
Non-taxpayer benefits
|
Costs
|
Benefits minus costs (net present value)
|
Benefit to cost ratio
|
Chance benefits will exceed costs
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juvenile Justice | Jul. 2019 | ($2,312) | ($558) | ($1,754) | ($166) | ($2,478) | ($13.96) | 41% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Jul. 2019 | $18,495 | $4,023 | $14,472 | ($352) | $18,144 | $52.60 | 70% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Jun. 2019 | $55,193 | $11,616 | $43,577 | ($1,693) | $53,499 | $32.59 | 93% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Feb. 2019 | $28,630 | $7,868 | $20,762 | ($3,411) | $25,219 | $8.39 | 99% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Aug. 2019 | $20,889 | $5,156 | $15,733 | ($4,636) | $16,253 | $4.51 | 74% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Jun. 2023 | $1,563 | $974 | $588 | ($4,574) | ($3,011) | $0.34 | 41% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Mar. 2019 | $165,893 | $38,110 | $127,782 | ($8,857) | $157,036 | $18.73 | 100% | |
| Juvenile Justice | May. 2019 | $28,562 | $8,069 | $20,493 | ($9,486) | $19,076 | $3.01 | 99% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Feb. 2019 | $16,496 | $5,089 | $11,407 | ($14,083) | $2,413 | $1.17 | 53% | |
| Juvenile Justice | May. 2019 | $25,668 | $9,459 | $16,210 | ($16,566) | $9,102 | $1.55 | 59% | |
| Juvenile Justice | May. 2019 | $15,134 | $5,008 | $10,126 | ($9,605) | $5,529 | $1.58 | 59% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Jul. 2019 | $45,682 | $11,923 | $33,759 | ($3,355) | $42,327 | $13.62 | 92% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Jul. 2019 | $35,164 | $8,525 | $26,639 | $3,101 | $38,265 | n/a | 100% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Jun. 2019 | $16,856 | $8,685 | $8,172 | ($28,652) | ($11,795) | $0.59 | 24% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Jul. 2019 | $10,451 | $2,964 | $7,486 | ($2,513) | $7,938 | $4.16 | 82% | |
| Juvenile Justice | Jul. 2019 | ($1,756) | ($202) | ($1,553) | ($938) | ($2,693) | ($1.87) | 44% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Jan. 2017 | $10,854 | $2,989 | $7,865 | $80 | $10,934 | n/a | 65% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Nov. 2016 | $17,692 | $5,149 | $12,543 | $449 | $18,142 | n/a | 99% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Nov. 2016 | $7,397 | $1,844 | $5,554 | ($454) | $6,943 | $16.29 | 58% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Nov. 2016 | $33,675 | $8,172 | $25,503 | ($4,610) | $29,065 | $7.30 | 93% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Dec. 2016 | $10,382 | $3,209 | $7,173 | ($1,646) | $8,736 | $6.31 | 98% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Aug. 2016 | $54,897 | $15,844 | $39,053 | ($2,870) | $52,027 | $19.13 | 88% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Aug. 2016 | $1,478 | $757 | $722 | ($2,317) | ($839) | $0.64 | 42% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Aug. 2016 | $11,102 | $4,164 | $6,938 | ($6,326) | $4,776 | $1.76 | 59% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Dec. 2016 | $15,565 | $4,605 | $10,960 | ($958) | $14,607 | $16.25 | 100% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Dec. 2016 | $11,238 | $3,454 | $7,784 | ($1,617) | $9,621 | $6.95 | 98% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Aug. 2016 | $26,901 | $9,581 | $17,320 | ($17,092) | $9,809 | $1.57 | 90% | |
| Adult Criminal Justice | Nov. 2016 | ($2,175) | ($447) | ($1,728) | ($413) | ($2,588) | ($5.27) | 33% | |
| Child Welfare | Aug. 2017 | $33,584 | $12,319 | $21,265 | ($1,931) | $31,652 | $17.39 | 95% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Aug. 2017 | $4,852 | $1,417 | $3,434 | $411 | $5,262 | n/a | 85% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Aug. 2017 | $181 | $138 | $43 | ($706) | ($525) | $0.26 | 48% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Jul. 2018 | $3,939 | $1,120 | $2,819 | ($1,978) | $1,960 | $1.99 | 55% | |
| Children's Mental Health | May. 2018 | $2,197 | $820 | $1,377 | $40 | $2,237 | n/a | 79% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Aug. 2017 | $38 | $98 | ($60) | ($517) | ($479) | $0.07 | 49% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Apr. 2018 | ($3,499) | ($563) | ($2,935) | ($1,166) | ($4,665) | ($3.00) | 47% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Aug. 2017 | $30,196 | $9,512 | $20,684 | $129 | $30,324 | n/a | 100% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Aug. 2017 | $1,956 | $1,086 | $870 | ($178) | $1,778 | $10.97 | 51% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Jun. 2018 | $8,903 | $2,690 | $6,213 | $709 | $9,612 | n/a | 83% | |
| Children's Mental Health | May. 2018 | $13,939 | $4,542 | $9,396 | ($516) | $13,423 | $27.04 | 94% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Jul. 2018 | $4,967 | $1,678 | $3,289 | $676 | $5,642 | n/a | 98% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Apr. 2018 | $7,021 | $3,006 | $4,014 | ($4,546) | $2,475 | $1.54 | 57% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Jul. 2018 | $13,170 | $3,238 | $9,932 | ($1,866) | $11,304 | $7.06 | 58% | |
| Children's Mental Health | May. 2018 | $5,983 | $1,738 | $4,245 | $624 | $6,606 | n/a | 92% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Jun. 2018 | $1,385 | $960 | $425 | ($2,354) | ($969) | $0.59 | 29% | |
| Children's Mental Health | Jul. 2018 | $19,727 | $5,971 | $13,756 | ($4,804) | $14,923 | $4.11 | 86% | |
| Health Care | Nov. 2015 | $195 | $141 | $54 | ($32) | $162 | $6.01 | 84% | |
| Health Care | Nov. 2015 | $183 | $0 | $183 | ($32) | $150 | $5.64 | 83% | |
| Health Care | Jan. 2018 | $803 | $164 | $639 | ($394) | $409 | $2.04 | 88% | |
| Health Care | Jan. 2018 | $9,669 | $1,290 | $8,379 | ($1,144) | $8,525 | $8.45 | 100% | |
| Health Care | Jan. 2018 | ($634) | $12 | ($646) | ($1,378) | ($2,012) | ($0.46) | 23% | |
| Substance Use Disorders | May. 2014 | $10,991 | $2,217 | $8,774 | $378 | $11,369 | n/a | 60% | |
| Substance Use Disorders | May. 2014 | $1,253 | $373 | $880 | ($86) | $1,167 | $14.53 | 65% | |
| Substance Use Disorders | Sep. 2016 | $7,670 | $1,581 | $6,089 | ($313) | $7,357 | $24.51 | 57% | |
| Substance Use Disorders | Dec. 2016 | ($554) | ($38) | ($516) | ($634) | ($1,188) | ($0.87) | 49% | |
| Substance Use Disorders | May. 2014 | $2,729 | $974 | $1,755 | ($6,375) | ($3,646) | $0.43 | 44% | |
| Substance Use Disorders | Jun. 2016 | ($1,454) | $31 | ($1,486) | ($4,082) | ($5,536) | ($0.36) | 37% | |
| Substance Use Disorders | May. 2015 | $2,778 | $2,026 | $752 | ($9,504) | ($6,726) | $0.29 | 30% | |
| Substance Use Disorders | May. 2014 | $7,199 | $1,527 | $5,672 | $0 | $7,199 | n/a | 56% | |
| Substance Use Disorders | Sep. 2018 | $9 | $26 | ($16) | ($128) | ($119) | $0.07 | 48% | |
| Adult Mental Health | Sep. 2016 | $31,492 | $9,556 | $21,936 | ($511) | $30,982 | $61.66 | 84% | |
| Adult Mental Health | Sep. 2016 | $1,376 | $1,029 | $347 | ($825) | $550 | $1.67 | 48% | |
| Adult Mental Health | Sep. 2016 | $45,904 | $13,918 | $31,986 | ($677) | $45,227 | $67.85 | 100% | |
| Adult Mental Health | Sep. 2016 | $34,610 | $10,549 | $24,061 | ($595) | $34,015 | $58.20 | 100% | |
| Adult Mental Health | Sep. 2016 | $68,024 | $21,180 | $46,844 | ($664) | $67,360 | $102.40 | 100% | |
| Adult Mental Health | Dec. 2014 | $16,645 | $9,566 | $7,079 | ($1,715) | $14,930 | $9.70 | 60% | |
| Adult Mental Health | Sep. 2016 | $56,693 | $17,587 | $39,106 | ($81) | $56,611 | $696.33 | 100% | |
| Adult Mental Health | Sep. 2016 | ($344) | $352 | ($696) | ($1,913) | ($2,257) | ($0.18) | 42% | |
| Adult Mental Health | May. 2014 | $8,283 | $2,614 | $5,669 | ($951) | $7,332 | $8.71 | 81% | |
| Public Health & Prevention | Mar. 2018 | $1,280 | $3,138 | ($1,858) | ($1,073) | $207 | $1.19 | 50% | |
| Public Health & Prevention | Dec. 2014 | $535 | $169 | $366 | ($45) | $490 | $11.86 | 57% | |
| Public Health & Prevention | Aug. 2017 | $10,170 | $3,178 | $6,992 | ($539) | $9,631 | $18.87 | 81% | |
| Public Health & Prevention | Aug. 2017 | $7,038 | $6,259 | $779 | ($46,645) | ($39,607) | $0.15 | 23% | |
| Public Health & Prevention | Nov. 2015 | ($145) | $1 | ($145) | ($295) | ($440) | ($0.49) | 45% | |
| Public Health & Prevention | Jun. 2019 | $3,067 | $954 | $2,113 | ($74) | $2,993 | $41.37 | 72% | |
| Public Health & Prevention | Nov. 2015 | ($14) | $0 | ($15) | ($30) | ($44) | ($0.48) | 50% | |
| Public Health & Prevention | Jan. 2018 | $11,004 | $3,421 | $7,583 | ($729) | $10,274 | $15.09 | 74% | |
| Public Health & Prevention | Aug. 2018 | $3,836 | $1,181 | $2,655 | ($653) | $3,183 | $5.87 | 60% | |
| Workforce Development | Dec. 2016 | $19,214 | $5,760 | $13,454 | ($6,542) | $12,673 | $2.94 | 88% | |
| Workforce Development | Nov. 2015 | $2,599 | $1,558 | $1,041 | ($615) | $1,984 | $4.23 | 65% | |
| Higher Education | Jul. 2017 | $349 | $128 | $221 | ($1,024) | ($675) | $0.34 | 19% | |
| Higher Education | Jul. 2017 | $234 | $67 | $166 | ($449) | ($216) | $0.52 | 37% | |
| Higher Education | Jan. 2018 | $4,642 | $906 | $3,736 | ($11) | $4,631 | $415.66 | 60% |
Other topics reviewed; benefit-cost results not yet available:
| Research Area |
Program name (click on the program name for more detail) |
Date of last literature review | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health & Prevention |
Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS)
| Jun. 2016 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Child Welfare |
Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up
| Nov. 2017 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Public Health & Prevention |
Behavioral Monitoring and Reinforcement Program (BMRP)
| Feb. 2020 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Children's Mental Health |
Choice Theory/Reality Therapy for children with disruptive behavior
| Jul. 2018 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Adult Mental Health |
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for prodromal psychosis
| Sep. 2016 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Substance Use Disorders |
Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) for engaging clients in treatment
| Sep. 2016 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Health Care |
Cost sharing: (a) High-Deductible Health Plans (moderate to high deductibles, with and without HRAs or HSAs), general patient population
| Nov. 2015 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Health Care |
Cost sharing: (e) High-Deductible Health Plans with higher deductibles (individual > $1000) and HRA accounts, general patient population
| Nov. 2015 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Health Care |
Cost sharing: (f) High-Deductible Health Plans with higher deductibles (individual > $1000) and HSA accounts, general patient population
| Nov. 2015 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Health Care |
Cost sharing: (i) Copay increases across multiple services, low-income and chronically-ill population
| Nov. 2015 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Adult Criminal Justice |
Dialectical behavior therapy
| Sep. 2015 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Substance Use Disorders |
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for co-morbid substance use disorder and serious mental illness
| May. 2014 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Higher Education |
Early commitment programs (for middle and high school students)
| Dec. 2016 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Substance Use Disorders |
Family Behavior Therapy (FBT)
| May. 2014 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Juvenile Justice |
Functional Family Therapy (FFT) for post-release youth convicted of a sex offense
| Jul. 2019 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Child Welfare |
Functional Family Therapy—Child Welfare (FFT-CW)
| Sep. 2017 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Adult Mental Health |
Individual Placement and Support for first episode psychosis
| Aug. 2017 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Substance Use Disorders |
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) (problem drinkers)
| May. 2014 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Child Welfare |
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) for child abuse and neglect
| Aug. 2017 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Children's Mental Health |
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) for youth with serious emotional disturbance (SED)
| Jul. 2018 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Higher Education |
Need-based grants (for high school students and graduates)
| Dec. 2017 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Adult Criminal Justice |
Parenting programs (for incarcerated parents)
| Aug. 2016 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Pre-K to 12 Education |
Pre-K and elementary bilingual instruction for English language learners
| Jun. 2014 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Public Health & Prevention |
Resources, Education, and Care in the Home (REACH-Futures)
| Jun. 2018 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Higher Education |
Tuition sticker price increase at 2-year college (for high school students and graduates)
| Aug. 2017 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Higher Education |
Tuition sticker price increase at 4-year college (for high school students and graduates)
| Aug. 2017 | Click for meta-analytic results |
| Click to expand | |||
