The value of life : the rise and fall of a scientific research programme / by Rune Elvik.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Elvik, Rune, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Traffic safety.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (363 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK : Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018.

Summary:

Research on the monetary value of saving life and limb has produced results most laypeople would regard as nonsensical; however, researchers continue to try to make sense of these bewildering results and produce new studies. An almost forgotten theory of science can explain why this is so.Studies designed to obtain monetary valuations of life and limb have produced extremely diverse results. There is no consensus among researchers working in the field about the best research methods or the most credible results of research. However, this field of study continues to thrive. The methodology of scientific research programmes, a theory of science developed by the late philosopher Imre Lakatos, can help explain why a particular field of study continues to exist, despite not producing meaningful or easily interpreted results. Readers of the book will gain insight into internal norms of science that guide researchers to continue to pursue studies even if the findings, taken at face value, contradict the theoretical foundations of the research. Scientific theories can be upheld even when the evidence against them seems to be massive.

Contents:

Intro

Table of Contents

Preface

List of Abbreviations

Chapter One

1.1 Background

1.2 Research problems

Chapter Two

2.1 The inevitability of trade-offs and the impossibility of infinite values

2.2 Is monetary valuation needed for making trade-offs?

2.3 The consistency argument in favour of a uniform value of a statistical life

2.4 The efficiency of priorities matters in practice

2.5 Multiple standards of consistency in economic theory

2.6 Conclusions

Chapter Three

3.1 Economic perspectives

3.2 Philosophical perspectives

3.3 Psychological perspectives

3.4 Statistical perspectives

3.5 Conclusions

Chapter Four

4.1 Description of the methodology of scientific research programmes

4.2 Application of the methodology of scientific research programmes to valuation research

4.3 The hard core of valuation research as a scientific research programme

4.4 Conclusions

Chapter Five

5.1 The theory of willingness-to-pay for increased safety

5.2 Assessing the theory of willingness-to-pay for reduced risk of death as a protective belt

5.3 Conclusions

Chapter Six

6.1 Stated preference studies - the innovative phase

6.2 The revealed preference approach - the discovery of new complexities

6.3 Conclusions

Chapter Seven

7.1 Anomalies of the contingent valuation approach

7.2 Problems associated with the non-linearity of demand

7.3 Consistency between ex ante and ex post

7.4 The possible non-existence of potential Pareto-improvements

7.5 Conclusions

Chapter Eight

8.1 Methodological innovations in stated preference methods

8.2 Methodological innovations in statistical analysis

8.3 New theory - progressive or ad hoc?

8.4 A prominent economist bids farewell to valuation research

8.5 In what sense are preferences revealed?.

8.6 Recent studies - the current state-of-the-art

8.7 Concluding reflections

Chapter Nine

9.1 Elements of meta-analysis

9.2 A survey of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

9.3 Meta-analyses of special topics

9.4 Summary and discussion of meta-analyses

Chapter Ten

10.1 A research programme in trouble

10.2 From a uniform to an individualised value of life?

10.3 Multiple and inconsistent standards of consistency

10.4 Is an alternative hard core emerging?

10.5 Do revealed and stated preferences agree?

10.6 Conclusions

Chapter Eleven

11.1 Assessing the current status of valuation research as a scientific research programme

11.2 Alternatives: The valuation of quality of life

11.3 Alternatives: The capability approach

11.4 Alternatives: Utility functions based on happiness studies

11.5 Implications of selected utility functions

11.6 Hedonic adaptation and compensation needed to restore utility

Chapter Twelve

12.1 Discussion

12.2 Conclusions

References

Index.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-5275-1297-5

OCLC:

1044734427