The Willingness to Pay for Mortality Risk Reductions: A Comparison of the United States and Canada

33 Pages Posted: 2 Apr 2002

See all articles by Anna Alberini

Anna Alberini

University of Maryland - Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics

Alan Krupnick

Resources for the Future

Maureen Cropper

University of Maryland - Department of Economics; Resources for the Future

Nathalie B. Simon

Government of the United States of America

Joseph Cook

Resources for the Future

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: February 2002

Abstract

We present results for two contingent valuation surveys conducted in Hamilton, Canada and the US to elicit WTP for mortality risk reductions. We find similar Value of Statistical Life estimates across the two studies, ranging from USD 930,000 to USD 4.8 million (2000 US dollars). WTP increases with risk reduction size, but varies little with respondent age: individuals aged over 70 years hold WTP values approximately one-third lower than other respondents. Respondent health status has limited effect on WTP. These results provide little or no evidence for adjusting VSL estimates used in policy analyses for the affected population's age or health status.

Keywords: Value of a Statistical Life, Mortality Risks, Benefit-cost Analysis

JEL Classification: I18, Q28

Suggested Citation

Alberini, Anna and Krupnick, Alan and Cropper, Maureen L. and Simon, Nathalie B. and Cook, Joseph, The Willingness to Pay for Mortality Risk Reductions: A Comparison of the United States and Canada (February 2002). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=303701 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.303701

Anna Alberini

University of Maryland - Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics ( email )

Symmons Hall, Rm 2200
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-5535
United States
301-405-1267 (Phone)
301-314-9091 (Fax)

Alan Krupnick

Resources for the Future ( email )

1616 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Maureen L. Cropper

University of Maryland - Department of Economics ( email )

College Park, MD 20742
United States

Resources for the Future ( email )

1616 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Nathalie B. Simon (Contact Author)

Government of the United States of America ( email )

Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
United States

Joseph Cook

Resources for the Future

1616 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

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