How do you effectively communicate risk when something is risky over the medium or long term? Measure the risk in micromorts (the one-in-a-million chance of dying) and microlives (half an hour of extra life).
CT Snow from Hsinchu, Taiwan [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Related to this concept is the microlife: a unit of measurement that represents half an hour of life expectancy. Lose a microlife, and you will on average die half an hour earlier. Gain a microlife, you’re living a half hour longer. Watching television for two hours? You just lost a microlife. Eat five servings of fruit and vegetables? You gained four microlives (if you’re a man) or three microlives (if you’re a woman).
So, how much is a micromort worth? A 2009 study attempted to put a dollar figure on the micromort: how much money would people accept to take a one-in-a-million risk? $50, as it turns out.
Categories: Economics & business Health & medicine Sciences Weights & measures
The Generalist
I live in Auckland, New Zealand, and am curious about most things.
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