Priceless: On Knowing the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing (Large Print 16pt)As clinical as it sounds to express the value of human lives, health, or the environment in cold dollars and cents, cost-benefit analysis requires it. More disturbingly, this approach is being embraced by a growing number of politicians and conservative pundits as the most reasonable way to make many policy decisions regarding public health and the environment. By systematically refuting the economic algorithms and illogical assumptions that cost-benefit analysts flaunt as fact, Priceless tells a ''gripping story about how solid science has been shoved to the backburner by bean counters with ideological blinders'' (In These Times). Ackerman and Heinzerling argue that decisions about health and safety should be made ''to reflect not economists' numbers, but democratic values, chosen on moral grounds. This is a vividly written book, punctuated by striking analogies, a good deal of outrage, and a nice dose of humor'' (Cass Sunstein, The New Republic). Essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of human health and environmental protection, Priceless ''shines a bright light on obstacles that stand in the way of good government decisions''. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
Prices Without Values | 1 |
Myths and Markets | 14 |
The Unicorns of Deregulation | 48 |
The 6 1 Million Question | 71 |
An Ounce of Prevention | 108 |
Dreadful Events | 145 |
Unnatural Markets | 180 |
Honey I Shrunk the Future | 211 |
Values Without Prices | 240 |
Notes | 277 |
Acknowledgments | 321 |
Other editions - View all
Priceless: On Knowing the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing Frank Ackerman,Lisa Heinzerling No preview available - 2004 |
Priceless: On Knowing the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing Frank Ackerman,Lisa Heinzerling No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
agencies arsenic asbestos avoid bladder cancer Breyer bronchitis calculations Cass Sunstein Chapter Clean Air Act climate change contingent valuation cost-benefit analysis costs and benefits damages dangerous debate decision deregulation dioxin discount rate disease dollar value drinking water Ecological Economics economic analysis economists effects efficiency electricity environment environmental protection EPA’s estimates existence values exposure federal fish Frank Ackerman future Hahn harm hazards health and environmental income industry intervention John Graham kill Kip Viscusi lead life-saving life-years Lisa Heinzerling measures ment million monetary monetized Morrall nature OMB’s OSHA OSHA’s Pareto percent pollution precautionary principle present value priceless Prince William Sound problems programs public policy QALYs question regulation regulatory result Review Risk Analysis rule safety scientific society’s spending standard statistical surveys Tengs and Graham threats tion toxic Viscusi whale watch whales willingness to pay workers workplace worth
Bibliographic information
| Title | Priceless: On Knowing the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing (Large Print 16pt) |
| Author | Frank Ackerman |
| Edition | large print |
| Publisher | ReadHowYouWant.com, 2010 |
| ISBN | 1459604253, 9781459604254 |
| Length | 356 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |