The Value of a Statistical Life

In the United States, regulatory federal agencies are imposing tougher — and more costly — standards. One of the tools to achieve this is by rising the value of a statistical life (VSL). The VLS has always been subject to controversy given the different estimates, and methodologies, used. Read this article in the NYT that describes recent developments in the United States. At the CISS we believe this figure should be used more frequently to regulate many activities that put humans at risk of death. We are convinced the figure in social security can be used to determine pensions related to work injuries, to discriminate among different health interventions, among other examples. The analysis of the VSL is part of our permanent research agenda. In our Annual Report 2010 we present proxies of VSL for all countries of the continent.