The conceptual basis and numerical quantification of the time discount rate (or rates) to use for public sector analysis have been debated for over half a century. This paper addresses those aspects that are in principle amenable to formal analysis, with minimal need for judgements about ethics...

The conceptual basis and numerical quantification of the time discount rate (or rates) to use for the comparison of policies or projects from a national perspective have been extensively debated for over half a century. Many differences remain, some continuing over many decades and some emerging...