Are some lives more valuable? An ethical preferences approach

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Health Economics
Year: 2008
Volume: 27
Issue: 3
Pages: 739-752

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We develop a theoretical model of the ethical preferences of individuals, combining individual social welfare functions and random utility theory. The model is applied by conducting a choice experiment regarding safety-enhancing road investments that target different age groups and road user types. The relative value of a saved life is found to decrease with age, such that the present value of a saved life-year is almost independent of age at a pure rate of time preference of a few percent. Moreover, a saved pedestrian is consistently valued higher than a saved car driver of the same age.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jhecon:v:27:y:2008:i:3:p:739-752
Journal Field
Health
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25