The state of Glottamora has $100 million remaining in its budget for the current year. One alternative is to give Glottamorans a one-time tax rebate. Alternatively, two proposals have been made for state expenditures of these funds.
The first proposed project is to invest in a new power plant, costing $100 million and having an expected useful life of 20 years. Projected benefits accruing from this project are as follows:
YE ARS BENEFITS PER YEAR( $ MILLIONS )
1-5 $ 0
6-20 20
The second alternative is to undertake a job retraining program, also costing $100 million and generating the following benefits:
YE ARS BENEFITS PER YEAR( $ MILLIONS )
1-5 $20
6-10 14
11-20 4
The state Power Department argues that a 5 percent discount factor should be used in evaluating the projects, because that is the government's borrowing rate. The Human Resources Department suggests using a 12 percent rate, because that more nearly equals society's true opportunity rate.
What rate do you believe to be more appropriate?