Abstract

ROJAS, Mariano  and  ELIZONDO-LARA, Maikol. La evaluación de enfermedades. Un enfoque de bienestar subjetivo. El trimestre econ [online]. 2011, vol.78, n.311, pp.527-545. ISSN 2448-718X.

This paper uses the subjective well-being approach to value the personal cost of illnesses. The approach becomes an alternative to traditional valuation methodologies based on revealed and stated preferences. The paper shows that illnesses reduce health satisfaction, while income is positively related to it. Hence, it is possible to calculate the compensatory income which is required in the presence of an illness so as to keep health satisfaction constant. This computation is an estimate of the monetary valuation of the illness, and it can be interpreted as the monetary value of the benefits from programs which aim to correct or avoid health problems. The empirical illustration is based on data from representative surveys run in Costa Rica. The illustration values four diagnosed illnesses.

Keywords : salud; enfermedad; bienestar subjetivo; evaluación; Costa Rica.