The subjective value of a life with Down syndrome: Evidence from amniocentesis decision

Gajdos, Thibault; Garrouste, Clémentine; Geoffard, Pierre-Yves

Gajdos, Thibault; Garrouste, Clémentine; Geoffard, Pierre-Yves (2016), The subjective value of a life with Down syndrome: Evidence from amniocentesis decision, Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 127, p. 59–69. 10.1016/j.jebo.2016.04.014

Type

Article accepté pour publication ou publié

Date

2016

Journal name

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

Volume

127

Publisher

Elsevier

Pages

59–69

Laboratoire de psychologie cognitive [LPC]
Garrouste, Clémentine
Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine [LEDa]
Geoffard, Pierre-Yves
Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques [PJSE]

Abstract (EN)

Using a simple theoretical decision model and an original database, we were able to elicit the distribution of the utility value of having a child with Down syndrome for a large sample of French pregnant women (n = 28,341) between 2003 and 2007. We found that, on a scale where the value of a fetal death is 0 and the value of a healthy child is 1, the mean value for a child with Down syndrome is about −0.6. Assuming that the policymaker used the same decision model as the women, we infer from the French amniocentesis reimbursement regulation an implicit social value for a child with Down syndrome of −2.5. We conclude from our study that the policymaker is more likely to prevent the birth of children with Down syndrome than French women themselves.

Subjects / Keywords

Amniocentesis choices; Expected utility framework

JEL

I18 - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health