Parental altruism and the value of avoiding acute illness: are kids worth more than parents?

摘要: Abstract A model describing parents’ preferences to relieve their own and children's acute illnesses is estimated using stated-preference data. Estimated marginal rates of substitution (MRS) between child parent illness are about two, indicating that parents value attributes twice as highly own. The MRS larger for younger children, falls toward unity the approaches adulthood, appears reflect parental altruism rather than parent–child differences in initial health or costs. Intra-family allocations may compensate chronic impairments. Parents’ willingness pay avoid increases with income, declines fertility, at a decreasing rate duration number symptoms, depends on perceived discomfort activity restrictions. Current methods assessing morbidity benefits environmental regulations understate substantially health, particularly African-American families.