Public willingness to pay (WTP) for a wastewater surveillance system for infectious diseases (IMAGE)
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A team of researchers conducted a large-scale survey with a nationally representative sample in Japan to estimate their WTP for a nationwide wastewater surveillance system for infectious diseases. Their assessment using the contingent valuation method revealed that people have a mean WTP of $23.47, with a median WTP of $8.83 per household per year for the surveillance system. Using this, the national monetary valuation aggregate was found to be $497 million, which would cover the establishing and maintenance costs for the system, and also support applications of wastewater surveillance at major international airports in Japan. A progressive income tax is recommended to fund this system, so as to exempt lower-income individuals/households.
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Byung-Kwang Yoo from Waseda University’s School of Human Sciences
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