Robert J. Brent, Professor of Economics, Fordham University, New York, US

• Contents:PrefacePART I: WHY COST–BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS NEEDED TO SET HIV/AIDS PRIORITIES1. Introduction to the Book2. Why Not Just Simply do What is Right and Try to Save Lives?3. Myths and Misinformation4. Counterintuitive Results5. What is Wrong with Setting any Targets?6. What is Wrong with Setting the Particular MDG Targets?7. Cost–Benefit Analysis 101 8. Cost–Benefit Analysis 201 PART II: HIV/AIDS AS A HUNGER AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE9. Introduction to Part II10. HIV and Hunger11. Nutrition and HIV at the Individual Level12. Nutrition and HIV at the Country Level13. Income as a Factor Raising HIV Rates 14. Education as a Factor Raising HIV Rates 15. Islam as a Factor Lowering HIV Rates 16. Impact of HIV on Agricultural Households17. Agricultural Policy and HIV Interventions18. Sex and HIV I: The Role of Transmission19. Sex and HIV II: The Role of Concurrency20. Sex and HIV III: The Role of NetworksPART III: COST–BENEFIT METHODS AND APPLICATIONS21. Introduction to Part III22. Threshold Analysis Theory23. Threshold Analysis Practice: The Effectiveness of HIV Education24. Threshold Analysis Practice: The Benefits of Avoiding HIV 25. Threshold Analysis Practice: The Costs of a Possible HIV/AIDS Vaccine26. Willingness to Pay Theory27. Willingness to Pay Practice: The Benefits of Condoms28. Cost Minimization Theory29. Cost Minimization Practice: The Costs of Treating TB30. Cost-Effectiveness Theory31. Cost-Effectiveness Practice: The Benefits of ARVs32. Human Capital Theory33. Human Capital Practice: The Benefits of Female Primary Education34. Value of a Statistical Life Theory35. Value of a Statistical Life Practice: The Benefits of VCTPART IV: SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN CBA36. Introduction to IV37. Commodification: Everything is Seen as a Commodity to be Bought and Sold38. What is So “Social” About CBA? Fundamentals of CBA39. Social and Private Perspectives in CBA40. CBA and Equity I: Allowing for Ability to Pay41. CBA and Equity II: Allocating by Time and Other Non-Price Methods42. Conclusions I: How Not to Set Priorities for HIV 43. Conclusions II: Using CBA to Set Priorities for HIV ReferencesIndex

‘Professor Brent’s book is a superlative addition to the HIV/AIDS policy literature. Both non-specialists and specialists in policy evaluation will benefit from the lucid exposition of cost–benefit analysis (CBA) methods applied to the most critical and far-reaching problem that challenges social institutions and individual behavior. Essentially, Professor Brent has taken his vast experience in cost–benefit analysis, and on the ground African research, to apply CBA in a compelling and insightful manner. This book re-examines HIV/AIDS policy in Sub-Saharan countries where the devastation is an infection tsunami. . . Finding what actually works may be difficult, but Professor Brent argues persuasively that using a CBA framework is the best approach.’