• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.1-26
• /
• 2023

This study employs the dichotomous choice contingent valuation method to estimate the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL) and the Value per Statistical Case (VSCC) of cancer risk. In contrast to the previous studies, which presented the mortality risk probability directly, the study uses conditional probability, which combines the chance of getting cancer and dying from it. In addition, the study examines the impact of variables that may affect willingness to pay for reducing the risk of death from cancer and getting cancer, such as the impact on daily life and pain levels associated with cancer. The results indicate that the estimated cancer VSL ranges from approximately 952 million won to 3.359 billion won, while the VSCC is estimated to be between about 0.42 billion won and 2.72 billion won. The study finds a significant difference in the VSL depending on whether the reduction in mortality risk is from a decrease in the chance of getting cancer or a decrease in the chance of dying from cancer. However, the effect of impacts on daily activities and pain on willingness to pay is inconclusive.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.683-699
• /
• 2007

This study applied the choice experiment (CE) method to measure values of statistical lives from multi-attributed mortality risk reduction choices. The four characteristics of mortality risk (i.e. cause of death, voluntariness of mortality risk, timing of death, magnitude of mortality risk reduction) are utilized to design the alternatives of choice sets. The estimation results for the multinomial logit model show that individuals are willing to pay 27,930 won per year for a change from the status quo to a $\frac{1}{100}$ mortality risk reduction for 10 years, 116,773 won per year for mortality risk reduction associated with adults, 97,682 won per year for voluntary mortality risk reduction, 77,234 won per year for involuntary mortality risk reduction. There were several estimates of VSL related to different attributes of mortality risk. The mean VSLs of infant/child/young adult ranged from 1,165 million won to 1,367 million won. The mean VSLs ranged from 1,631 million won to 1,833 million won for adult, and were between 1,128 million won and 1,330 million won for old person.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.845-873
• /
• 2008

This study estimates the VSL(value of a statistical life) as well as the WTP(willingness to pay) for mortality risk reduction using sample selection model with data on liver cancer examination which is associated with little possibility of multi-purpose(i.e. joint production) in averting behavior. The marginal benefits of mortality risk reduction are estimated by applying for household production function model with medical expense and the time required for medical examination of liver cancer. Individuals are more likely to take liver cancer test if they are male, older, higher educated, those with spouse, smoker, more income of household, and more anxious about their health. The costs of liver cancer examination are statistically significantly affected with expected signs by size of mortality risk reduction, sex, period of eduction, those with spouse, and household income. The marginal effect of mortality risk reduction owing to taking liver cancer examination is estimated at 321,097 won. The costs of liver cancer examination are increased by 905 won with more one year of education period and by 1,743 won with more one million won in household income. On liver cancer examination, male spends more 12,310 won than female and those with spouse pay more 7,969 won than those without spouse. Therefore the VSL from mortality risk reduction due to liver cancer examination is 321.10 million won at mean size of mortality risk reduction and mean cost of liver cancer examination. The results of sensitivity tests on costs and effects of liver cancer test shows that the VSLs are estimated in a range from 160.55 million won to 642.19 million won.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.247-270
• /
• 2020

The value of a statistical life (VSL) plays a very important role in estimating the benefits of environmental policy. It is used, for example, as a unit of monetization of health benefits resulting from the reduction of air pollutants, which is the basis of cost-benefit analysis of policies. The VSL can be defined as the value that people of each society are willing to pay to reduce the risk of death, so the value should reflect the characteristics of its members. In this study, we apply a choice experiment with 3,081 respondents collected through a web survey were divided into two samples according to the type of questions. Among the various estimates, the most appropriate estimate of the VSL is about 1.3 billion won from 1,528 sample, which is similar to the results of the meta-analysis using estimates from prior studies conducted in Korea. In addition, this study shows that a private prevention program is preferred to reduce the risk of death from cancer rather than a public program.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.505-529
• /
• 2022

Radon is a radioactive gas that causes lung cancer deaths. The contingent valuation method (CVM) is used to estimate the value of a statistical life(VSL) of 2.054 billion won for the death due to residential radon in Korea. Residential radon is assumed to have caused 2,330 deaths in 2020, of which the estimated social cost is 4.78 trillion won. When a national compulsory standard of 200Bq/m³ is set for residential radon concentration, the number of lives saved is estimated to be 691, leading to a social benefit of 1.42 billion won. This study reports the origin, characteristics and health risk of residential radon, and emphasizes the importance of a dramatic increase in the budget for residential radon reduction policies.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.1-25
• /
• 2016

This study investigated the variability of WTP estimates(i.e. mean or median) with ad hoc assumptions of specific parametric probability distributions(i.e. normal, logistic, lognormal, and exponential distribution) to estimate WTP function using dichotomous choice CV data on mortality risk reduction. From the perspective of policy decision, the variability of these WTP estimates are intolerable in comparison with those of Turnbull nonparametric estimation method which is free from ad hoc distribution assumptions. The Turnbull nonparametric estimation can avoid a kind of misspecification bias due to ad hoc assumption of specific parametric distributions. Furthermore, the WTP estimates by Turnbull nonparametric estimation are robust because the similar estimates are elicited from a dichotomous choice or double dichotomous choice CV data, and the statistically significant WTP estimates can be obtained even though it is not possible by parametric estimation methods. If there are considerable variability among those WTP estimates by parametric estimation methods in condition with no criteria of model adequacy, the mean WTPs from Turnbull nonparametric estimation can be the robust estimates without ad hoc assumptions, which can avoid controversial issues in the perspective of policy decisions.