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Valuation of Safety under Reference-Dependent Evaluation of Income

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  • José Antonio Robles-Zurita

    (Department of Economics, Universidad Pablo de Olavide)

Abstract

We analyze data of a Spanish nationally-representative survey where subjects reported their Willingness To Pay (WTP) for road safety improvements; specifically they hypothetically paid for a reduction of the risk of a road fatality and several injuries. Respondents also reported their current income (CI) and permanent income (PI). The latter refers to their normal income once they considered various stages of low/high earnings throughout their entire lives. Consequently, we define relative income as the comparison of CI with respect to PI. Three income frames are generated as explanatory variables: Gain (with CI>PI); Neutral (with CI=PI); and Loss scenario (with CI 45), being about three or four times higher than for the younger subset. Possible interpretations of the role of PI as a reference point are considered given the results. A reference-dependent utility function of income, where PI is the reference point, is proposed to describe the monetary valuation of safety within the theoretical framework previously developed in the safety economics literature.

Suggested Citation

  • José Antonio Robles-Zurita, 2015. "Valuation of Safety under Reference-Dependent Evaluation of Income," Working Papers 15.03, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pab:wpaper:15.03
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew E. Clark & Paul Frijters & Michael A. Shields, 2008. "Relative Income, Happiness, and Utility: An Explanation for the Easterlin Paradox and Other Puzzles," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 46(1), pages 95-144, March.
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    6. Arianne de Blaeij & Raymond J.G.M. Florax & Piet Rietveld & Erik T. Verhoef, 2000. "The Value of Statistical Life in Road Safety: A Meta-Analysis," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 00-089/3, Tinbergen Institute.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    reference-dependent; relative income; willingness to pay; road safety; contingent valuation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis

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