Animal welfare in non-anthropocentric cost-benefit analysis and social welfare functions: a critical review to guide practical application

Abstract

Cost-benefit analysis and social welfare functions are two closely related methods to evaluate policy impacts. In this critical review, we present the state of knowledge on how to include the animals’ (non-anthropocentric) perspective in these policy evaluations. For this, we synthesize material from the scientific and grey literature and develop a checklist that guides through the process of non-anthropocentric cost-benefit analysis and social welfare functions. Step-by-step, the checklist gives an overview of the alternative options and normative assumptions in the literature and points to remaining research gaps.