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Le calcul de la valeur statistique d'une vie humaine
[Estimation of statistical value of life]

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  • Dionne, Georges
  • Lebeau, Martin

Abstract

Our society faces many risks that affect human life. Cost-benefit analysis is a very popular project-evaluation tool for reducing these social risks. The government has to set projects or regulations whose benefits will outweigh costs. It is quite easy to evaluate costs but how to evaluate the benefits linked to protecting human life? Since the 1970s, many values of life have been estimated with different methods. The wide variability of the results range from 0,5 million up to 50 million ($US, 2000). The main goal of this study is to analyze the source of this variability in results. We also want to determine a reasonable value for public decision making.

Suggested Citation

  • Dionne, Georges & Lebeau, Martin, 2010. "Le calcul de la valeur statistique d'une vie humaine [Estimation of statistical value of life]," MPRA Paper 37573, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:37573
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Statistical value of life; meta-analysis; mixed effects regression model; hedonic wage method; risk; income effect; risk aversion; valeur statistique d’une vie humaine; méta-analyse; régression à effets mixtes; méthode hédonique d’estimation des salaires; risque; effet revenu; aversion au risque;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
    • J58 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Public Policy
    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General

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