Estimating the value of a statistical life in China: A contingent valuation study in six representative cities

Chaoji Cao; Xinke Song; Wenjia Cai; Yichao Li; Jianhui Cong; Xueying Yu; Mengzhao Gao; Can Wang

Chinese Journal of Population, Resources and Environment (Dec 2023)

Estimating the value of a statistical life in China: A contingent valuation study in six representative cities

Chaoji Cao,
Xinke Song,
Wenjia Cai,
Yichao Li,
Jianhui Cong,
Xueying Yu,
Mengzhao Gao,
Can Wang

Affiliations

Chaoji Cao: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Center for Healthy Cities, Institute for China Sustainable Urbanization, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Urban Institute, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Xinke Song: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Wenjia Cai: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Center for Healthy Cities, Institute for China Sustainable Urbanization, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Urban Institute, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Corresponding author.
Yichao Li: Center for Statistical Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Jianhui Cong: School of Economics and Management, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030000, China
Xueying Yu: School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; Key Laboratory of Big Data-Based Precision Medicine (Beihang University), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing 100191, China
Mengzhao Gao: Center for Statistical Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Can Wang: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 21, no. 4
pp. 269 – 278

Abstract

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The value of a statistical life (VSL) is a crucial tool for monetizing health impacts. To explore the VSL in China, this study examines people’s willingness to pay (WTP) to reduce death risk from air pollution in six representative cities in China based on face-to-face contingent valuation interviews (n = 3 936) from March 7, 2019 to September 30, 2019. The results reveal that the WTP varied from CNY 455 to 763 in 2019 (USD 66–111), corresponding to a VSL range of CNY 3.79–6.36 million (USD 549 395–921 940). The VSL in China in 2019 is estimated to be CNY 4.76 million (USD 689 659). The statistics indicate that monthly expenditure levels, environmental concerns, risk attitudes, and assumed market acceptance, which have seldom been discussed in previous studies, significantly impact WTP and VSL. These findings will serve as a reference for analyzing mortality risk reduction benefits in future research and for policymaking.

Published in Chinese Journal of Population, Resources and Environment

ISSN: 2096-9589 (Print); 2325-4262 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/chinese-journal-of-population-resources-and-environment/

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