Question

Various techniques have been proposed to curb cross-border drug smuggling into a country. The costs of implementing each strategy along a particularly rugged section of the border are indicated below. The table also includes a score that is compiled based on deterrence, interdiction, and apprehension, with a higher score indicating better performance. Determine the technique with the highest and the lowest cost-effectiveness ratio. For a budget of $55 million, determine the total cost of the most cost-effective techniques.

Activity	Cost, $	Score
Tethered Aerostats	3.3	8
Boots-on-the-Ground	30.1	52
Fence	11.2	12
Motion Sensors	6.8	7
Seismic Sensors	4.4	5
Drones	10.4	26

The activity with the lowest cost-effectiveness ratio is ........

The activity with the highest cost-effectiveness ratio is .........

The total cost is $........ million

Answer 1

Cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) = Score / Cost

Activity	Cost, $	Score	CER
Tethered Aerostats	3.3	8	2.42
Boots-on-the-Ground	30.1	52	1.73
Fence	11.2	12	1.07
Motion Sensors	6.8	7	1.03
Seismic Sensors	4.4	5	1.14
Drones	10.4	26	2.50

Therefore,

(1) The activity with the lowest cost-effectiveness ratio is Motion Sensors.

(2) The activity with the highest cost-effectiveness ratio is Drones.

(3) The total cost is $51 million

Projects with CER > 1 should be chosen, so projects in descending order of CER, alongwith costs are: Drones ($26M), Tethered Aerostats ($8M), Boots-on-the-Ground ($52M), Seismic sensors ($5M), Fence ($12M) and Motion Sensors ($7M).

Out of this, Boots-on-the-Ground and Motion Sensors cannot be chosen since this will exceed budget of $55M.

Total cost ($M) = 26 + 8 + 5 + 12 = 51