A two-stage random-effects estimator for meta-analyses of the value per statistical life.

We developed and examined the performance of a two-stage random-effects meta-analysis estimator for synthesizing published estimates of the value per statistical life (VSL). The meta-estimation approach accommodates unbalanced panels with one or multiple observations from each independent group of p...

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Main Authors: Stephen C Newbold, Chris Dockins, Nathalie Simon, Kelly Maguire, Abdullah Muhammad Sakib
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324630
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author Stephen C Newbold
Chris Dockins
Nathalie Simon
Kelly Maguire
Abdullah Muhammad Sakib
author_facet Stephen C Newbold
Chris Dockins
Nathalie Simon
Kelly Maguire
Abdullah Muhammad Sakib
author_sort Stephen C Newbold
collection DOAJ
description We developed and examined the performance of a two-stage random-effects meta-analysis estimator for synthesizing published estimates of the value per statistical life (VSL). The meta-estimation approach accommodates unbalanced panels with one or multiple observations from each independent group of primary estimates, and distinguishes between sampling and non-sampling sources of error, both within and between groups. We used Monte Carlo simulation experiments to test the performance of the meta-estimator on constructed datasets. Simulation results indicate that, when applied to datasets of modest size, the approach performs best when the within-group non-sampling error variances are assumed to be homogeneous among groups. This allows for two levels of non-sampling errors while preserving degrees of freedom and therefore increasing statistical efficiency. Simulation results also show that the estimator compares favorably to several other commonly used meta-analysis estimators, including other two-stage estimators. As a demonstration, we applied the approach to a pre-existing meta-dataset including 113 VSL estimates assembled from 10 revealed preference and 9 stated preference studies conducted in the U.S. and published between 1999 and 2019.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-5f5c335fccf94416a9dd01a6d3d547b82025-08-20T03:50:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01206e032463010.1371/journal.pone.0324630A two-stage random-effects estimator for meta-analyses of the value per statistical life.Stephen C NewboldChris DockinsNathalie SimonKelly MaguireAbdullah Muhammad SakibWe developed and examined the performance of a two-stage random-effects meta-analysis estimator for synthesizing published estimates of the value per statistical life (VSL). The meta-estimation approach accommodates unbalanced panels with one or multiple observations from each independent group of primary estimates, and distinguishes between sampling and non-sampling sources of error, both within and between groups. We used Monte Carlo simulation experiments to test the performance of the meta-estimator on constructed datasets. Simulation results indicate that, when applied to datasets of modest size, the approach performs best when the within-group non-sampling error variances are assumed to be homogeneous among groups. This allows for two levels of non-sampling errors while preserving degrees of freedom and therefore increasing statistical efficiency. Simulation results also show that the estimator compares favorably to several other commonly used meta-analysis estimators, including other two-stage estimators. As a demonstration, we applied the approach to a pre-existing meta-dataset including 113 VSL estimates assembled from 10 revealed preference and 9 stated preference studies conducted in the U.S. and published between 1999 and 2019.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324630
spellingShingle Stephen C Newbold
Chris Dockins
Nathalie Simon
Kelly Maguire
Abdullah Muhammad Sakib
A two-stage random-effects estimator for meta-analyses of the value per statistical life.
PLoS ONE
title A two-stage random-effects estimator for meta-analyses of the value per statistical life.
title_full A two-stage random-effects estimator for meta-analyses of the value per statistical life.
title_fullStr A two-stage random-effects estimator for meta-analyses of the value per statistical life.
title_full_unstemmed A two-stage random-effects estimator for meta-analyses of the value per statistical life.
title_short A two-stage random-effects estimator for meta-analyses of the value per statistical life.
title_sort two stage random effects estimator for meta analyses of the value per statistical life
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324630
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