The precautionary principle (PP) has been proposed as the proper guide for the decision-making criteria to be adopted in the face of the new catastrophic risks that have arisen in the last decades. This article puts forward a workable definition of the PP based on the so-called alpha-maximin expected utility approach, applying it to the possible outbreak of the avian flu disease among humans. Moreover, it shows how the shortage and/or lack of effective drugs against the infection of the virus A(H5N1) among humans can be considered a precautionary failure.
Understanding the risk of an avian flu pandemic: Rational waiting or precautionary failure ? / Marcello, Basili; Franzini, Maurizio. - In: RISK ANALYSIS. - ISSN 0272-4332. - 26:3(2006), pp. 617-630. [10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00761.x]
Understanding the risk of an avian flu pandemic: Rational waiting or precautionary failure ?
FRANZINI, MAURIZIO
2006
Abstract
The precautionary principle (PP) has been proposed as the proper guide for the decision-making criteria to be adopted in the face of the new catastrophic risks that have arisen in the last decades. This article puts forward a workable definition of the PP based on the so-called alpha-maximin expected utility approach, applying it to the possible outbreak of the avian flu disease among humans. Moreover, it shows how the shortage and/or lack of effective drugs against the infection of the virus A(H5N1) among humans can be considered a precautionary failure.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.