Abstract:

One of the things which has consistently puzzled international researchers over the years has been the relationship between the costing of the same job in different countries. This paper represents an attempt to collate a number of job cost comparisons which have been carried out in recent years (some public, some private), and to examine some of the real cost differences which lie behind these. Cost differences cannot be fully explained because of the many heterogeneous factors which give rise to them, and the interactions between these. However, in the preparation of this paper, it has been possible to identify a number of contributory elements which it is hoped will enable international researchers to approach the costing of international jobs with greater understanding in the future.