Open AccessWillingness to pay for reduction in fatality risk: an exploratory survey.
Author(s) -
Anita Müller,
Thomasj . Reutzel
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.74.8.808
Subject(s) - respondent , willingness to pay , actuarial science , value of life , psychology , value (mathematics) , reliability (semiconductor) , social psychology , economics , statistics , mathematics , political science , microeconomics , law , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
Willingness to pay surveys represent one method for measuring the benefit of health and life saving programs. However, the reliability and validity of survey responses to questions concerning the reduction of fatality or injury risks have been questioned. The results of a survey of 77 senior year undergraduate students show that reasonable appearing and consistent responses to willingness to pay questions on car crash protection can be obtained. However, the implied value of life was over 100 times greater for an unidentified life than for the respondent's own life. Also, no relationship was found between willingness to pay responses and variables reflecting respondent's rational considerations. These paradoxical results seem to be due to the mistaken assumptions that people employ rational considerations when responding to willingness to pay questions and that they are capable of matching their responses with the functional relationship (proportionality) underlying implied value of life calculations.