Valuing a reduction in the risk of an underactive thyroid: A large-scale multi-country stated preference approach

Heini Ahtiainen, Richard Dubourg, Damien Dussaux, Irène Hu, Väinö Nurmi, Elvia Rufo Jimenez and Christoph Rheinberger

No 272, OECD Environment Working Papers from OECD Publishing

Abstract: Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is a relatively common condition resulting from exposure to a range of chemicals including phthalates, bisphenols, amitrole and polyhalogenated compounds. Many of these hazardous substances are regulated or under consideration for regulation to reduce exposure and prevent human health risks. Cost-benefit analyses are commonly used to assess the societal impacts of chemicals regulation. However, data on the health benefits of chemicals regulation – most appropriately measured in terms of willingness-to-pay – are often lacking or incomplete. The Surveys on Willingness to Pay to Avoid Negative Chemicals-Related Health Effects (SWACHE) project intends to fill this gap by establishing internationally comparable values for the willingness-to-pay to avoid negative health effects due to exposure to chemicals. As part of the SWACHE project, this paper provides findings from a stated preference survey estimating individuals’ willingness-to-pay to reduce the risk of underactive thyroid across 12 countries (Austria, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States). It represents the first ever stated preference valuation studies assessing reductions in the risk of developing hypothyroidism, filling an important gap in the valuation literature and addressing a need for applied benefits analysis for chemicals regulation.

Keywords: chemicals regulation; economic valuation; health risk; health valuation; hypothyroidism; monetised benefits; morbidity valuation; non-market valuation; stated preferences; surveys; underactive thyroid; value of a statistical case; willingness-to-pay (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D61 I18 J17 K32 Q51 Q53 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-04-07
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oec:envaaa:272-en

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