economist

Estimate project costs and identify key cost drivers without detailed quotes.

6|Updated Feb 3, 2026

Search Tags:#feasibility #budgeting #ROI #procurement #cost-analysis #estimate #cost-drivers

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/dangeles/claude --skill economist

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: economist
Source: https://github.com/dangeles/claude/tree/main/claude-config/skills/economist
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/dangeles/claude --skill economist

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps teams estimate project costs and assess financial viability without requiring detailed quotes.

Core Features & Use Cases

Cost estimation: Provide rough order-of-magnitude ranges for equipment, labor, and materials.
Cost-driver identification: Highlight the main drivers of total cost and where optimization yields the most savings.
Decision support: Compare alternatives for ROI and feasibility to inform procurement and planning.

Quick Start

Command the system to generate an order-of-magnitude cost analysis for a proposed experiment or project, highlighting key cost drivers.

Frequently Asked Questions about economist

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I estimate project costs without detailed vendor quotes?▼

You can estimate project costs by generating an order-of-magnitude cost analysis that provides rough ranges for equipment, labor, and materials to assess financial viability early.

What is a rough order-of-magnitude cost estimate used for?▼

A rough order-of-magnitude cost estimate is used for early-stage R&D, procurement planning, and budgeting scenarios to compare alternatives for ROI and identify major cost drivers.

How do I identify key cost drivers for procurement planning?▼

Identify key cost drivers for procurement planning by analyzing rough cost estimates to highlight main total cost components and flag areas where optimization yields the most savings.

Can I compare alternatives for ROI and feasibility using early-stage cost estimates?▼

Yes, you can compare alternatives for ROI and feasibility using early-stage cost estimates to inform procurement and planning decisions without requiring detailed quotes.

When should I not use rough cost ranges for budgeting?▼

You should not use rough cost ranges for budgeting when detailed costing is required, though this analysis will explicitly flag those specific areas needing further detailed costing.