The Role of Publication Selection Bias in Estimates of the Value of a Statistical Life

W Viscusi

No 20116, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Meta-regression estimates of the value of a statistical life (VSL) controlling for publication selection bias yield bias-corrected estimates of VSL that are higher for labor market studies using the more recent Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) data. These results are borne out by the findings for four meta-analysis data sets and different formulations of the variable used to capture publication bias effects. Meta-regression estimates for a large sample of VSL estimates consisting only of results of labor market studies using the CFOI fatality data indicate publication selection bias effects that are not statistically significant in either fixed effects or random effects models with clustered standard errors. The confidence intervals of the publication bias-corrected estimates of the value of a statistical life sometimes include the sample mean estimates and always include the values that are currently used by government agencies.

JEL-codes: I18 J17 J31 K32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-lma
Note: EH
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Published as W. Kip Viscusi, 2015. "The Role of Publication Selection Bias in Estimates of the Value of a Statistical Life," American Journal of Health Economics, MIT Press, vol. 1(1), pages 27-52, Winter.

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Journal Article: The Role of Publication Selection Bias in Estimates of the Value of a Statistical Life (2015)
Journal Article: The Role of Publication Selection Bias in Estimates of the Value of a Statistical Life (2015)
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