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Pricing Lives: International Guideposts for Safety

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  • W. Kip Viscusi

Abstract

Government agencies throughout the world use the value of a statistical life (VSL) to monetise the mortality risk reduction benefits of government policies. The most reliable empirical estimates of the VSL using US labour market data are about US$10 million (year 2015 US dollars). Based on international estimates of the income elasticity of the VSL, one can transfer these values to other countries, leading to my VSL estimate for Australia of US$7.9 million, or A$10.0 million, which is over double the current Australia best†practices value. Transferring US VSL estimates to other nations after accounting for income differences will boost global VSL estimates. Potential refinements of the VSL based on age and income are also feasible. The VSL could serve a pivotal role in promoting safety by valuing lives in litigation contexts, regulatory sanctions, and corporate risk analyses.

Suggested Citation

  • W. Kip Viscusi, 2018. "Pricing Lives: International Guideposts for Safety," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 94(S1), pages 1-10, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecorec:v:94:y:2018:i:s1:p:1-10
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-4932.12396
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joseph E. Aldy & W. Kip Viscusi, 2008. "Adjusting the Value of a Statistical Life for Age and Cohort Effects," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 90(3), pages 573-581, August.
    2. Jones-Lee, M. & Spackman, M., 2013. "The development of road and rail transport safety valuation in the United Kingdom," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 23-40.
    3. Joni Hersch & W. Kip Viscusi, 2010. "Immigrant Status and the Value of Statistical Life," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 45(3).
    4. Viscusi, W Kip & Aldy, Joseph E, 2003. "The Value of a Statistical Life: A Critical Review of Market Estimates throughout the World," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 5-76, August.
    5. Janusz R. Mrozek & Laura O. Taylor, 2002. "What determines the value of life? a meta-analysis," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(2), pages 253-270.
    6. W. Kip Viscusi, 2015. "The Role of Publication Selection Bias in Estimates of the Value of a Statistical Life," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 27-52, Winter.
    7. Cole, R.P. & Zief, S.G. & Knab, J., 2016. "Establishing an evaluation technical assistance contract to support studies in meeting the US department of health and human services evidence standards," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106, pages 22-24.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jaithri Ananthapavan & Marj Moodie & Andrew J. Milat & Rob Carter, 2021. "Systematic Review to Update ‘Value of a Statistical Life’ Estimates for Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Delgado-Cubillo, Pablo & Martín Román, Ángel L., 2023. "Workers' behavior after safety regulations: Impact evaluation of the Spanish Occupational Safety and Health Act," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1277, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    3. Kniesner, Thomas J. & Sullivan, Ryan & Viscusi, W. Kip, 2024. "The Military VSL," IZA Discussion Papers 17441, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Menares, F.; & Muñoz, P.;, 2023. "The Impact of a Disease-Specific Health Insurance Reform on Mortality," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 23/10, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
    5. Gabriel Martínez, 2022. "The value of longevity: An international analysis," Revista Desarrollo y Sociedad, Universidad de los Andes,Facultad de Economía, CEDE, vol. 90(1), pages 9-42, February.

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