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Considering The Cost Of A Human Life

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The discussions about when to "reopen" the economy after the COVID-19 shutdowns ultimately get down to math.

Some political leaders have been more explicit than others in identifying a trade-off: lives for dollars; more virus deaths as the price of a revived economy.

This is the kind of math Howard Steven Friedman wrote about BEFORE the pandemic. Friedman's book is Ultimate Price: The Value We Place on Life.

We explore how data scientists, regulators, and insurance companies calculate the price of a human life... and what they do with the information.

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The Jefferson Exchange is Jefferson Public Radio's daily news program focused on issues, people and events across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Natalie Golay is the program's senior producer, Charlie Zimmermann is the assistant producer, and Mike Green hosts the show.