Risk vs. Risk: Tradeoffs in Protecting Health and the Environment

Published by Harvard University Press 1995

Risk vs. Risk

Tradeoffs in Protecting Health and the Environment

Edited by: John D. Graham and Jonathan Baert Wiener
Preface by: Cass R. Sunstein

https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674037878

Overview
Contents

About this book

In Risk versus Risk, John Graham, Jonathan Wiener, and their colleagues at the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis marshal an impressive set of case studies which demonstrate that all too often our nation's campaign to reduce risks to our health and the environment is at war with itself, steadily creating new risks.

Reviews

One would be hard pressed to find a more important topic than risk tradeoff. Whether addressing the health of individuals or the ecosystem of the planet, Graham and Wiener advocate a proactive, holistic approach rather than heuristic, piecemeal reactions to emergencies-of-the-month...an important, even pathbreaking book.
-- James B. Lane Political Science Quarterly

This book goes well beyond most of the extant risk analysis works currently available...Professionals and policymakers should find this volume quite useful and thought provoking...This work might also begin a dialogue that will help develop a more holistic way of thinking about our problems and stimulate demand for a more democratic and informed policymaking process.
-- John S. Klemanski Perspectives on Political Science

John Graham and Jonathan Wiener develop their thesis that unless risk tradeoffs are considered in reducing risks, well intentioned, costly measures may fail to deliver the expected protection of the environment, safety or health. In brief, Graham and Wiener begin by describing a framework for 'risk tradeoff analysis,' then document the significance and complexity of risk tradeoffs in a range of real-world issues, and conclude by proposing a holistic approach to reducing risk. Professionals and policymakers engaged in risk management and risk communication will find this book illuminating and immensely useful.
-- Mona S. Rowe Health Physics Society

In recent years changing lifestyles and shifts in the distribution of resources have been accompanied by growing concerns about risks to health, safety and the environment. The key argument in this book is that policies to combat such risks may themselves introduce 'countervailing risks' which can serve to offset the positive effects of policy intervention. This leads to the idea that 'risk tradeoffs' must be considered in order to prevent well-intentioned programmes from causing perverse outcomes. The book aims to develop a framework for risk tradeoff analysis (RTA) which should enable decision-makers, at a personal, social or government level, to weigh all existing and potential risks with care in seeking solutions to reduce overall risk...[The case study] chapters each make fascinating reading in themselves and cover issues ranging from the recycling of lead in batteries to hormone replacement therapy for women with menopausal problems...Risk tradeoff analysis is seen as having the potential to stimulate the development of forms of intervention to confront, if not always to resolve, risk tradeoffs and the need to take a more holistic approach to risk reduction here at least incorporates recognition of the need for cultural change.
-- Meg Huby Health, Risk & Society [UK]

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Foreword Cass R. Sunstein Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	xii
1 Confronting Risk Tradeoffs John D. Graham and Jonathan Baert Wiener Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2 Estrogen Therapy for Menopause Evridiki Hatziandreu, Constance Williams and John D. Graham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	42
3 Clozapine Therapy for Schizophrenia Miriam E. Adams, Howard Chang and Howard S. Frazier Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	53
4 Licensing the Elderly Driver Constance Williams and John D. Graham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	72
5 Saving Gasoline and Lives John D. Graham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	87
6 Eating Fish Paul D. Anderson and Jonathan Baert Wiener Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	104
7 Seeking Safe Drinking Water Susan W. Putnam and Jonathan Baert Wiener Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	124
8 Recycling Lead Katherine Walker and Jonathan Baert Wiener Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	149
9 Regulating Pesticides George M. Gray and John D. Graham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	173
10 Protecting the Global Environment Jonathan Baert Wiener Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	193
11 Resolving Risk Tradeoffs Jonathan Baert Wiener and John D. Graham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	226
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	273
Contributors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	318
Author Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	319
Subject Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	325

Language: English
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 351

eBook

Published: July 1, 2009
ISBN: 9780674037878