Context effects on the willingness to pay for mortality risk reductions from a nuclear accident; An Analysis before the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident

Takahara, Shogo  ; Kato, Takaaki*; Kimura, Masanori ; Nishikawa, Masashi*; Homma, Toshimitsu

The monetary values based on the WTP approach are subject to people's perceptions related to the controllability, the extent of voluntary acceptance and the level of own responsibility. Such effects are called "context effects." In the present study, to clarify the context effects on the WTP-based monetary values for reducing risks of radiation exposures in nuclear accidents, a contingent valuation survey was conducted in vicinity areas of Japanese nuclear power sites before the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. From the results of the survey, it was confirmed the WTP for the reduction of the mortality risks of fatal cancer induced by radiation exposures in a nuclear accident is lower than the WTPs for the reducing risks of fatal cancer from the other causes. Consequently, the WTP for the reducing risks due to nuclear accidents was found to be subject to the context effects in terms of the responsibility for reducing risks.