Markets and mortality
Subtitle: economics, dangerous work, and the value of human life
By: Peter Dorman.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Cambridge [England]; New York, NY, USA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 274
Subjects: Hazardous occupations -- Economic aspects.; Industrial safety -- Economic aspects.; Life -- Valuation.; Risk.
Other titles: Markets & mortality
Description: In this book the author examines and ultimately rejects the conventional economic view that workers who have more dangerous jobs accept their risks voluntarily and are compensated through higher wages. In doing so, he attacks widely used techniques for assigning a monetary value to human life for cost-benefit analysis and other purposes. Arguments are drawn from the history of occupational safety and health, econometric analysis of wage and risk data, and formal models of the labor market.

In place of the conventional view, Peter Dorman proposes a view based on new work in decision theory (thick rationality) and the theory of repeated games. These insights are combined with comparative policy analysis to support an approach to risk that promotes both regulatory effectiveness and democratic values. Despite its technical content, the book is written in highly accessible style, and is concerned with matters of general interest in the development of critical social science.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 258-270) and index.