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Measuring the Value of a Statistical Life: Problems and Prospects

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Author Info
Orley Ashenfelter () (Princeton University and IZA Bonn)

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Abstract

Tradeoffs between monetary wealth and fatal safety risks are summarized in the value of a statistical life (VSL), a measure that is widely used for the evaluation of public policies in medicine, the environment, and transportation safety. This paper demonstrates the widespread use of this concept and summarizes the major issues, both theoretical and empirical, that must be confronted in order to provide a credible estimate of a VSL. The paper concludes with an application of these issues to a particular study of speed limits and highway safety.

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File URL: ftp://repec.iza.org/RePEc/Discussionpaper/dp1911.pdf
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in its series IZA Discussion Papers with number 1911.

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Length: 32 pages
Date of creation: Jan 2006
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp1911

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Related research
Keywords: value of a statistical life; speed limits; safety risks; evaluation;

Other versions of this item:

Find related papers by JEL classification:
J17 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Value of Life; Foregone Income
H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
R4 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Transportation Systems

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Black, Dan A & Kniesner, Thomas J, 2003. " On the Measurement of Job Risk in Hedonic Wage Models," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 205-20, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Richard Thaler & Sherwin Rosen, 1976. "The Value of Saving a Life: Evidence from the Labor Market," NBER Chapters, in: Household Production and Consumption, pages 265-302 National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!]
  3. Hersch, Joni, 1998. "Compensating Differentials for Gender-Specific Job Injury Risks," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 88(3), pages 598-627, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Orley Ashenfelter & Michael Greenstone, 2002. "Using Mandated Speed Limits to Measure the Value of a Statistical Life," Working Papers 842, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section.. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  5. Heckman, James J, 1979. "Sample Selection Bias as a Specification Error," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 47(1), pages 153-61, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Glenn C. Blomquist, 2004. "Self-Protection and Averting Behavior, Values of Statistical Lives, and Benefit Cost Analysis of Environmental Policy," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 89-110, 03. [Downloadable!]
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Julia Fimpel & Michael Stolpe, 2006. "The Welfare Costs of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe: An Empirical Assessment Using the Economic Value-of-Life Approach," Kiel Working Papers 1297, Kiel Institute for the World Economy. [Downloadable!]
  2. Hennessy, David A., 2007. "Economic Aspects of Agricultural and Food Biosecurity in the United States," Staff General Research Papers 12771, Iowa State University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Thomas J. Kniesner & W. Kip Viscusi & Christopher Woock & James P. Ziliak, 2007. "Pinning Down the Value of Statistical Life," IZA Discussion Papers 3107, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Martinez Perez, Jorge Eduardo & Mendez Martinez, Ildefonso, 2008. "¿Qué podemos saber sobre el Valor Estadístico de la Vida en España utilizando datos laborales?," MPRA Paper 11165, University Library of Munich, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  5. Jan Rouwendal & Arianne de Blaeij & Piet Rietveld & Erik Verhoef, 2008. "The Information Content of a Stated Choice Experiment," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 08-053/3, Tinbergen Institute. [Downloadable!]
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