Policymakers continually set and monitor chemicals regulations, seeking to balance the many benefits they bring to society with potentially negative effects on human health. While more stringent regulations can impose costs on industry, consumers and governments, they also improve human health and well-being. To weigh these tradeoffs, policymakers need information on both the potential economic costs and benefits these regulations bring to society. However, data on economic benefits are rarely available, especially physical, emotional and social ones. The OECD Surveys on Willingness-to-pay to Avoid negative Chemicals-related Health Effects project fills this gap by estimating the economic benefits of mitigating non-fatal health outcomes associated with chemicals exposure.
How much are people willing to pay to reduce their risk of developing or worsening various health conditions? What influences their willingness-to-pay? And how can these estimates be transferred across countries?
Join us as we unpack these questions and more at our next OECD Green Talks LIVE on 16 October 2026 from 15:00 to 16:00 CEST to discuss findings from the new OECD report Economic Valuation of Chemicals-Related Health Effects: A Practical Guide to Quantifying Morbidity Effects in Environmental Cost-Benefit Analysis. This report synthesises evidence from more than 116 000 respondents across 28 countries to establish internationally comparable estimates mapping people’s willingness-to-pay to avoid or reduce the risk of experiencing 10 non-fatal health effects.
The report provides valuation results and offers guidance for their use in cost-benefit analyses. It also presents a novel benefit-transfer methodology that extends these valuations to all 38 OECD Member countries and South Africa. Following a presentation of key findings, panellists will discuss how the results can be leveraged to improve environmental cost-benefit analyses and support more effective chemicals management options.
