Technological risk perception and nuclear power costs - the quantification of uncertainty

The paper investigates the factors underlying nuclear cost escalation and specifies a nonlinear regression technique that identifies costs caused by public and professional uncertainty about future technological performance as opposed to costs based on objective design and construction-related factors. Using multivariate analysis of variance, a positive relationship between costs related to uncertainty and nuclear plant specific factors as size, age, and vintage (year of initial operation) is established. 14 refs