Are some lives more valuable?

Author(s)
Johansson-Stenman, O. & Martinsson, P.
Year
Abstract

A theoretical model of the ethical preferences of individuals is tested by conducting a choice experiment on safety-enhancing road investments. The relative value of a saved life is found to decrease with age, such that the present value of a saved year of life is almost independent of age at a pure rate of time preference of a few percent, and a saved car driver is valued 17-31% lower than a pedestrian of the same age. Moreover, individuals’ ethical preferences seem to be fairly homogenous. (Author/publisher)

Request publication

2 + 15 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.

Publication

Library number
20111877 ST [electronic version only]
Source

Göteborg, Göteborg University, Department of Economics, 2003, 19 p., 29 ref.; Working Papers in Economics ; No. 96

Our collection

This publication is one of our other publications, and part of our extensive collection of road safety literature, that also includes the SWOV publications.