Valuation of Environment-Related Health Risks for Children
Is the value of reducing environmental risk greater for children than for adults? If so, what does this mean for policy makers? This report, the final output of the Valuation of Environment-Related Health Impacts (VERHI) project, presents new research findings on these key environmental policy questions.
The authors estimate a "VSL" (Value of a Statistical Life) for children and adults based on new methodological approaches for valuing children’s health. The survey work is distinguished by its international dimension (surveys were conducted in the Czech Republic, Italy and the United Kingdom) and by the extensive development efforts undertaken.
The result: Two new survey instruments based on different methodological approaches; new estimates of the VSL for adults and children; analysis of the effects of context and other factors on risk preferences; presentation of novel ways to communicate risk, including a variety of visual aids; and insights that identify interesting paths for further study.
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Conclusions and policy implications
While it is clear that there is no single ratio which can capture differences in risk preferences for children and adults, there is some evidence that the VSL for a child is greater than that of an adult. This has implications for policy evaluation and prioritisation, perhaps resulting in certain policy interventions passing benefit-cost tests when this would not have been the case with the use of an undifferentiated VSL. However, it is clear that further work is required.
Egalement disponible en : Français