This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: Does the principle of optimization imply that people always make the best choices? What will be ... (Read 39 times)

ssal

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 572
Does the principle of optimization imply that people always make the best choices?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is meant by the value of a statistical life? Why is it calculated?How is it used by policymakers?
 
  What will be an ideal response?



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

gcook

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 343
Answer to Question 1

Optimization is a good description of almost all human behavior, but this doesn't mean that people are always perfect calculators. Our decisions are roughly equal to the choices we would make if we always optimized. To an economist, optimization is a good approximation of the decisions that people make.

Answer to Question 2

The value of a statistical life is the implied value of life from individual choices between options with different but small probabilities of fatality risk.Put another way, it is the money value of a human life saved, or the economic value of reducing risks to life through policy decisions. This can be inferred from the decisions of governments and consumers.However, the value of a statistical lifeis not intended to be seen as a price tag on human life. Rather, it is useful to policymakers in making decisions about which public projectsroads, bridges, damsto undertake.As such, it can be employed as the basis of cost-benefit analysis, as well as in deciding how much people need to be compensated for certain risks that they take.
A-head: ECONOMIC TOOLS TO VALUE HUMAN LIFE
Concept: Value of a statistical life





 

Did you know?

More than nineteen million Americans carry the factor V gene that causes blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and heart disease.

Did you know?

Limit intake of red meat and dairy products made with whole milk. Choose skim milk, low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Limit fried food. Use healthy oils when cooking.

Did you know?

All patients with hyperparathyroidism will develop osteoporosis. The parathyroid glands maintain blood calcium within the normal range. All patients with this disease will continue to lose calcium from their bones every day, and there is no way to prevent the development of osteoporosis as a result.

Did you know?

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease in the world. Most children who develop asthma have symptoms before they are 5 years old.

Did you know?

The training of an anesthesiologist typically requires four years of college, 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship, and 3 years of residency.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library