The value of life: Real risks and safety-related productivity in the Himalaya

Jeremy Goucher and William Horrace

Labour Economics, 2012, vol. 19, issue 1, 27-32

Abstract: This paper estimates the value of a statistical life from commercial Himalayan expeditions. Because deaths occur with a fair amount of regularity, fatality rates are calculated for each mountain trail and are, hence, disaggregated measures of risk. Also, since the marginal product of labor in the industry is (in part) the marginal product of safety, our revenue measures may account for unobserved safety-related productivity of guides. Guide safety is explicitly observed by market participants, and is reflected in higher wages for safer guides. Our VSL estimates are about $5M.

Keywords: Statistical life; Risk; Cost-benefit; Mountaineering; Internet Wayback Machine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D61 J17 J49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:labeco:v:19:y:2012:i:1:p:27-32

DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2011.06.014

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