Cost-benefit analysis is a systematic methodological approach used to evaluate the desirability of a project, policy, or decision by comparing the total expected costs against the total expected benefits. This analytical framework investigates the net impact of interventions, often quantifying diverse effects into a common metric (typically monetary value) to determine if the aggregate benefits exceed the aggregate costs. Its significance lies in providing a structured basis for informing efficient resource allocation and rational decision-making across economic, social, and environmental contexts.