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Willingness to Pay, Death, Wealth, and Damages

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  • Ariel Porat
  • Avraham Tabbach

Abstract

When people face risk of death, they overinvest in risk reduction: first, they discount their risk-reduction costs by the probability of death; second, they consider the consumption of their wealth as a benefit from risk reduction. From a social perspective, people's wealth remains after their death. Therefore, discounting costs by the probability of death and taking into account the benefit of wealth consumption are socially inefficient. Moreover, even for the individual under risk of death, the investment in risk reduction is excessive. We discuss market mechanisms that could correct the inefficiencies; we argue that "willingness to pay" as a criterion for valuing life should radically change; and we show how the results of the economic analysis of tort law should be modified. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Ariel Porat & Avraham Tabbach, 2011. "Willingness to Pay, Death, Wealth, and Damages," American Law and Economics Review, American Law and Economics Association, vol. 13(1), pages 45-102.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:amlawe:v:13:y:2011:i:1:p:45-102
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/aler/ahq028
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    Cited by:

    1. Alfred Endres & Tim Friehe, 2015. "The Compensation Regime in Liability Law: Incentives to Curb Environmental Harm, Ex Ante and Ex Post," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 62(1), pages 105-123, September.
    2. Massimo D’Antoni & Avraham D Tabbach, 2019. "The Complementary Role of Liability and Safety Regulation," American Law and Economics Review, American Law and Economics Association, vol. 21(1), pages 150-183.

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