Which analysis compares programs that aim to produce similar results by evaluating the ratio of cost to outcome?

• A. Cost-benefit analysis
• B. Performance analysis
• C. Cost-effectiveness analysis
• D. Strategic analysis

Answer: (C)

When programs aim for the same result, the most informative comparison is how much it costs to achieve a unit of that outcome. This is cost-effectiveness analysis. It expresses results as a cost per unit of outcome (for example, dollars per crime prevented or dollars per student proficient) and uses that ratio to decide which program achieves the target more efficiently without converting the outcome into money.

This differs from cost-benefit analysis, which would monetize the outcomes and compare net monetary benefits instead of focusing on the cost per unit of result. It also isn’t about general performance metrics or broad strategy, which don’t center on the specific cost-to-outcome ratio for equivalent objectives.