The cost of uncertain life span
By: Ryan D. Edwards.
Contributors: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series -- working paper 14093; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) -- working paper no. 14093.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Description: "A considerable amount of uncertainty surrounds life expectancy at birth, the average length of life.  The standard deviation in adult life spans is about 15 years in the U.S., and theory and evidence suggest it is costly.  In this paper, I calibrate a standard intertemporal model to show that one less year in standard deviation is worth about half a mean life year.  Differences in the standard deviation amplify measured differences in life expectancy between the U.S.  and other industrialized countries, and accounting for historical gains against the standard deviation raises the total value of mortality declines during the last century by about 25 percent"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Title from PDF file as viewed on 7/14/2008.

Includes bibliographical references.

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