Choosing for others when you don't know their attitudes to risk

What should a public health official do when the public's attitudes to risk are unknown? I lay out a simple decision model about a new virus, compare two utility tables and two policies, and show how unknown risk attitudes can flip expected utility and public health policy under uncertainty.

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Rolly's Take

This blog resonates with the contemplative thinker, the kind who ponders the complexities of decision-making in uncertain times. It's a space for those who are drawn to the intricate dance between public health and personal values, seeking to understand how societal choices ripple through individual lives. Here, the interplay of risk and unknowns unfolds delicately, inviting readers to reflect on the weight of choices made on behalf of others. It speaks to the intellectual curiosity of those who are not satisfied with easy answers but rather find depth in the questions that emerge when navigating the unknown.