Assumption/Analyst Ultra-low discount rate No Optimistic technology costs Energy efficiency research effective Catastrophic threat high High CSF CO2 residence time in atmosphere Critical examination of scientific validity Geoengineering valid alternative Principal policy recommendation and basis Krugman [65] Assumes low costs—so yes Not discussed Yes Presumably Presumably long No Not discussed ―Big bang‖ to reduce threat of CAGW Lomborg [58] No No Yes No Yes No Yes Presumably long Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2011, 8 1023 What this suggests is the importance of carefully examining these physical science inputs and other assumptions in arriving at useful conclusions. It is only by doing this that the major variables in reaching an economic conclusion with regard to proposed climate change mitigation measures can be fully understood and explained. At the risk of gross generalizations from limited data, Table 4 shows my assessment of how many of the economic analysts treated the major assumptions and their overall policy recommendations. Obviously there are exceptions to the generalizations included in the table which are not noted, particularly in the last column given the diversity of the other studies. And there will be disagreements as to my characterizations. But I believe that the table suggests the major policy variables that have been considered to date. Economists might find it useful to give greater attention to the major physical science assumptions in preparing detailed benefit and cost estimates. Table 4. Comparison of principal assumptions and recommendations by economic analysts. It appears that the conclusions from this analysis are substantially different from most previous such analyses for the reasons identified by this table. A major difference is the detailed review of some of the scientific and technical issues involved in this article. 6. Conclusions 6.1. Conclusions with Respect to the Economics of Climate Change Control By taking a multidisciplinary approach carefully considering what other disciplines have to say, insisting on using the most relevant observational data and the scientific method rather than depending on assertions, climate model outputs, and questionable conclusions, and considering lower cost Government Reports [63,64] Yes (0.1% [63], 0.05% [64]) Yes Yes Presumably Yes Presumably long No Carlin No No (Sec. 3.2) Most Others [66-78] No Yes No (Sec. 3.2) Not discussed No (Sec. 2.5) No (Sec. 2.3) Short (Sec. 2.2 & 2.6.1) Varies Yes Presumably long Yes (Sec. 2) No Not discussed Yes (Sec. 3.3) Not discussed Energy efficiency research to reduce costs a―CBvOoig2idlbe―avdneaglns‖gteorous‖ r(gNeSeoseoeceaa.ncr3tgci.hio3nne&;er4in)g ―Policy ramp‖ to reduce discounted costs