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Economic evaluation of healthcare technology improving the quality of social life: the case of assistive technology for the disabled and elderly

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  • Jungwoo Shin
  • Yeunjoong Kim
  • Heekoo Nam
  • Youngsang Cho

Abstract

Public investments in healthcare technology for the disabled and elderly to improve the quality of social life have been vigorous, but the economic evaluation of the assistive technology is still lacking. Under this circumstance, the purpose of this study is to analyse the socio-economic value of developing assistive technologies with the potential to improve the quality of social life, especially for disabled and elderly individuals. Based on a survey of 400 respondents, the spike model, a special form of the contingent valuation method (CVM) is applied to assess the value of assistive technologies. In Korea, a household’s willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the development of assistive technologies is US$4.26 per year, on average, in the form of a government-levied tax; although many people express zero WTP for the development of these technologies, people with higher household savings, higher levels of education and higher levels of charity donations have a higher WTP for the development of assistive technology. We conclude that although assistive technologies have considerable economic value many people express zero WTP for the development of these technologies. Therefore, political and social educational efforts are necessary to reach social consensus on the government investment in such technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Jungwoo Shin & Yeunjoong Kim & Heekoo Nam & Youngsang Cho, 2016. "Economic evaluation of healthcare technology improving the quality of social life: the case of assistive technology for the disabled and elderly," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(15), pages 1361-1371, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:48:y:2016:i:15:p:1361-1371
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2015.1100254
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    Cited by:

    1. Changsok Yoo & Yelim Kim & Jee Hoon Sohn, 2021. "Evaluating the Social Cost of Conflict between New Media and Society: The Case of Gaming Disorder in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Kim, Justine Jihyun & Lee, Jongsu & Shin, Jungwoo & He, Meihan, 2022. "How are high-tech assistive devices valued in an aging society? Exploring the use and non-use values of equipment that aid limb disability," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).

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