Willingness-to-pay for decreased risk from nuclear plant accidents. Working Paper No. 43

The study examines one factor encompassed in the evaluation of the nuclear energy system: the collective value people assign to risk avoidance. The specific risks dealt with were the risks of death or injury due to nuclear plant accidents. This value figure was arrived at by having the study participants assign monetary values to changes in the probabilities of plant accidents. No attempt was made to establish ''real'' accident probability rates, rather, the issue was treated hypothetically. The method by which this value figure was approached was through a study examining willingness-to-pay for decreased risk, and conversely, willingness-to-be-compensated to permit risk increase