Utility functions and equity of public risk

Technical Report · Wed Aug 08 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5907200

Keeney, R L

With many large-scale projects, such as power plants, some members of the public will necessarily incur a risk. Public fatalities may result from either normal operations (e.g., via pollution) or accidents. Often in such cases, a small group of the public incur the risks, whereas a different group of the public receives the benefits from the project. In these circumstances, a major issue concerns the equity or fairness afforded members of the public. The concept of an equitable distribution of risk to address this issue was developed. Utility functions are found to be consistent with various basic value attitudes toward risk equity.

• Research Organization: Woodward-Clyde Consultants, San Francisco, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5907200
• Report Number(s): UCRL-15057
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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