Averting catastrophe : decision theory for COVID-19, climate change, and potential disasters of all kinds / Cass R. Sunstein.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sunstein, Cass R., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Public administration--Decision making.

Public administration.

Crisis management in government.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (176 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

New York, New York : New York University Press, [2021]

Summary:

"The world is increasingly confronted with new challenges related to climate change, globalization, disease, and technology. Governments are faced with having to decide how much risk is worth taking, how much destruction and death can be tolerated, and how much money should be invested in the hopes of avoiding catastrophe. Lacking full information, should decision-makers focus on avoiding the most catastrophic outcomes? When should extreme measures be taken to prevent as much destruction as possible? This book explores how governments ought to make decisions in times of imminent disaster. Cass R. Sunstein argues that using the 'maximin rule,' which calls for choosing the approach that eliminates the worst of the worst-case scenarios, may be necessary when public officials lack important information, and when the worst-case scenario is too disastrous to contemplate. He underscores this argument by emphasizing the reality of 'Knightian uncertainty,' found in circumstances in which it is not possible to assign probabilities to various outcomes. Sunstein brings foundational issues in decision theory in close contact with real problems in regulation, law, and daily life, and considers other potential future risks" --Amazon.com.

Contents:

What we don't know

With and without numbers

The maximin principle

The precautionary principle

Uncertainty

Objections

Irreversibility.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-4798-0849-0

OCLC:

1239988979