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The Value of a Statistical Life in a Dictatorship: Evidence from Stalin

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  • Weber, Shlomo
  • Castaneda Dower, Paul
  • Markevich, Andrei

Abstract

We examine the value of a statistical life (VSL) in inter-war Soviet Union. Our approach requires to address the preferences of Stalin. We model these on the basis of the policy of statistical repression, which was an integral part of the Great Terror. We use regional variation in the victims generated by this policy to structurally estimate the value that Stalin would have been willing to accept for a reduction in citizens’ fatality risk. Our estimate of this value is $43,151, roughly 6% of the VSL estimate in 1940’s US and 29% of the VSL estimate in modern India.

Suggested Citation

  • Weber, Shlomo & Castaneda Dower, Paul & Markevich, Andrei, 2018. "The Value of a Statistical Life in a Dictatorship: Evidence from Stalin," CEPR Discussion Papers 12814, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:12814
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Gregory, Paul & Sonin, Konstantin & Schrôder, Philipp, 2006. "Dictators, Repression and the Median Citizen: An ?Eliminations Model? of Stalin?s Terror (Data from the NKVD Archives)," CEPR Discussion Papers 6014, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    9. Gregory, Paul R. & Schröder, Philipp J.H. & Sonin, Konstantin, 2011. "Rational dictators and the killing of innocents: Data from Stalin's archives," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 34-42, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas J. Kniesner, 2019. "Behavioral economics and the value of a statistical life," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 207-217, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Value of a statistical life; Autocracy; Dictatorship; Stalin; Great terror;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J17 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Value of Life; Foregone Income
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • N44 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Europe: 1913-
    • P51 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems - - - Comparative Analysis of Economic Systems

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