Every potential policy measure affecting human health – from seat belt laws to chemicals regulations – involves both economic costs and benefits. Stricter vehicle fuel efficiency standards may lead to higher costs for consumers and businesses, but they also save lives through improved air quality. Policymakers need reliable data to assess the economic benefits of health improvements of policies. The Value of Statistical Life concept (also known as the Value of a Prevented Fatality) has become a cornerstone in policy assessments to gain a better measure of the expected benefits in terms of lives saved of any policy that involves changes in mortality risk.
How can Value of Statistical Life estimates be used in policy analysis? How does the Value of Statistical Life differ across world regions? What considerations should policymakers take when transferring these estimates across countries and over time?
This OECD Green Talks LIVE took place 1 October 2025 from 15:00 to 16:00 CEST to launch the OECD report Mortality Risk Valuation in Policy Assessment: A Global Meta-analysis of Value of Statistical Life Studies. The report includes the largest meta-analysis of Value of Statistical Life studies ever attempted. Following a presentation of the key findings, panellists discuss how they can be leveraged to support cost-benefit analyses and other economic assessments. The webinar is moderated by Shardul Agrawala, Head of the Environment and Economy Integration Division in the OECD Environment Directorate.
