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The discounting of lives saved in future generations—some empirical results

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  • Magnus Johannesson
  • Per‐Olov Johansson

Abstract

The aim of this note is to estimate the discount rates that individuals in the present generation in Sweden use to discount lives saved in future generations at different points in time. A binary survey question, where individuals choose between saving lives in their own generation versus saving lives in future generations, was administered in a general population sample of 850 individuals. Three time horizons of 20, 50 and 100 years were used in three different subsamples. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the discount rate. The estimated annual discount rate is 25% for the 20 year time horizon, 12% for the 50 year time horizon and 8% for the 100 year time horizon.

Suggested Citation

  • Magnus Johannesson & Per‐Olov Johansson, 1996. "The discounting of lives saved in future generations—some empirical results," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 5(4), pages 329-332, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:5:y:1996:i:4:p:329-332
    DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1050(199607)5:43.0.CO;2-#
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John A. Cairns, 1994. "Valuing future benefits," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 3(4), pages 221-229, July.
    2. Cropper, Maureen L & Portney, Paul R, 1990. "Discounting and the Evaluation of Lifesaving Programs," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 369-379, December.
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    5. Cropper, Maureen L & Aydede, Sema K & Portney, Paul R, 1994. "Preferences for Life Saving Programs: How the Public Discounts Time and Age," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 243-265, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Preston Greene, 2024. "Social bias, not time bias," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 23(1), pages 100-121, February.

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