Valuation of the risk of SARS in Taiwan.
Two surveys conducted in Taiwan during the spring 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic reveal a high degree of concern about the threat posed by SARS to Taiwan and its residents, although respondents believe they are knowledgeable about the risk of SARS and that it is susceptible to individual control. Willingness to pay (WTP) to reduce the risk of infection and death from SARS is elicited using contingent valuation methods. Estimated WTP is high, implying values per statistical life of US dollars 3 to 12 million. While consistent with estimates for high-income countries, these values are substantially larger than previous estimates for Taiwan and may be attributable to the high degree of concern about SARS at the time the data were collected.
Liu
Jin-Tan
JT
Department of Economics, National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
Hammitt
James K
JK
Wang
Jung-Der
JD
Tsou
Meng-Wen
MW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D026712:Value of Life