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Valuing the Risk of Death and Injury from Landmines in Thailand

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  • Barns, Sandra A.
  • Cameron, Michael P.
  • Gibson, John
  • Lim, Steven
  • Marsh, Dan
  • Scrimgeour, Frank G.
  • Tressler, John

Abstract

This paper presents estimates of the benefits of clearing landmines in rural Thailand using the contingent-valuation (CV) method. The data came from a survey where we asked 341 respondents referendum-type questions that elicit their willingness to pay for landmine clearance. Our estimates imply a value of a statistical life of between US$0.2-0.3 million. The survey also provides estimates of the injury risk-death risk tradeoff and the implicit value of statistical injury. These estimates suggest that the value of lives and injuries saved from mine clearing is likely to be at least an order of magnitude greater than those used in existing studies of mine clearing. Linking a household expenditure survey involving the same sample enables the relationship between the value of statistical life and the characteristics of the households to be considered. The implications of these estimates for cost benefit studies are illustrated using the study by Harris (2000) of mine clearance in Cambodia. It is shown that the value of lives and injuries saved is likely to dominate benefit assessments when VSL estimates are used.

Suggested Citation

  • Barns, Sandra A. & Cameron, Michael P. & Gibson, John & Lim, Steven & Marsh, Dan & Scrimgeour, Frank G. & Tressler, John, 2004. "Valuing the Risk of Death and Injury from Landmines in Thailand," 2004 Conference, June 25-26, 2004, Blenheim, New Zealand 97797, New Zealand Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:nzar04:97797
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.97797
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Viscusi, W Kip & Aldy, Joseph E, 2003. "The Value of a Statistical Life: A Critical Review of Market Estimates throughout the World," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 5-76, August.
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    6. repec:reg:rpubli:282 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Gareth Elliot & Geoff Harris, 2001. "A cost-benefit analysis of landmine clearance in Mozambique," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(5), pages 625-633.
    8. K. Shanmugam, 2000. "Valuations of Life and Injury Risks," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 16(4), pages 379-389, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cameron, Michael P. & Gibson, John & Helmers, Kent & Lim, Steven & Scrimgeour, Frank G. & Tressler, John & Vaddanak, Kien, 2005. "Value of Life and Measuring the Benefits of Landmine Clearance in Cambodia," 2005 Conference (49th), February 9-11, 2005, Coff's Harbour, Australia 137799, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.

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