title: [The willingness-to-pay concept in question].
abstract: The adequacy of the concept of willingness to pay within health economics evaluations is reviewed. A considerable number of researchers in the literature have pointed out multiple methodological issues involving willingness-to-pay estimates. On the other hand, the theoretical discussion about the aggregation of individual preferences within an aggregate demand remains open. However, over the last 20 years, willingness-to-pay estimates alongside health economics research significantly increased and in many cases they are one of the key factors for decision making on issues of health policies. The article describes some limitations of this approach as well as the potential distorting effect that it might have on health economics evaluations.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación en Economía de la Salud, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Joaquín F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mould Quevedo
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Contreras Hernández
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garduño Espinosa
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salinas Escudero
mesh_terms: D002755:Choice Behavior; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005382:Financing, Personal; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction