The cost of saving a statistical life: A case for influenza prevention and control
Document Type
Book Chapter
Date of Original Version
1-1-2012
Abstract
Billions of dollars have been spent on reducing the likelihood and severity of influenza pandemics originating in domesticated animals. These investments have global public-good properties and have to be shared. This chapter provides guidance for evaluating the benefits of flu-prevention expenditures and sharing their costs. Investments are valued by their implied statistical value of a life saved and are compared to a global average value that we construct. The results suggest that, if a $10 billion annual investment reduces the expected fatalities of a pandemic by 10%, then it is a reasonable or even very good investment. Our figures suggest that the United States should cover 20% and China 11% of the global public-good investment in flu risk reduction.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Health and Animal Agriculture in Developing Countries
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Sproul, Thomas W., David Zilberman, David Roland-Holst, and Joachim Otte. "The cost of saving a statistical life: A case for influenza prevention and control." Health and Animal Agriculture in Developing Countries (2012). doi: 10.1007/978-1-4419-7077-0_8.
