Science Inventory

THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS IN DRINKING WATER

Impact/Purpose:

The goal of this research is to use stated choice methods to valuate several different benefit values associated with reduction in morbidity risks due to drinking water contamination. The focus will be on acute and chronic problems associated with gastrointestinal illness. We have chosen this focus for the research because of the familiarity that most people have with this type of illness, which will facilitate the rational valuation of risk reduction. In addition, the project will continue to develop validity tests for the Knowledge Networks survey methodology that we began with our work on the value of water quality for purposes other than drinking water, in particular, for swimming, fishing, and aquatic uses.

Description:

The series of questions will serve as input for regression models that predict value of reductions in morbidity risks and utility tradeoff rates for related disamenities (duration, severity, etc.) based upon demographic and other characteristics of respondents. Thus, rather than generating values for narrowly defined disease groups, the study will produce economic values of the component attributes of different illnesses, making it possible to project values to a variety of health outcomes. The study will also include validity tests of Knowledge Networks panel.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )
Start Date:09/01/2006
Completion Date:08/31/2008
Record ID: 171820