Statistical vs. identified lives in benefit-cost analysis

James Hammitt and Nicolas Treich

Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 2007, vol. 35, issue 1, 45-66

Abstract: Evaluation of projects that affect mortality risk usually assumes that risk changes are small and similar across individuals. In reality, risks differ among individuals and information about risk heterogeneity determines the extent to which affected lives are “statistical” or “identified” and influences the outcome of benefit-cost analysis (BCA). The effects of information about risk heterogeneity on BCA depend on, inter alia, whether information concerns heterogeneity of baseline or change in risk and whether valuation uses compensating or equivalent variation. BCA does not systematically favor identified over statistical lives. We suggest some political factors that may explain the apparent public bias. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007

Keywords: Benefit-cost analysis; Value of statistical life; Information; Heterogeneity; D61; D81; H42; I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (30)

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Working Paper: Statistical vs. Identified Lives in Benefit-Cost Analysis (2007)
Working Paper: Statistical vs. Identified Lives in Benefit-Cost Analysis (2006)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:kap:jrisku:v:35:y:2007:i:1:p:45-66

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DOI: 10.1007/s11166-007-9015-8

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