[kurto]

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The only practical way I see to assign a value to a life is the NPV of future economic value.

Unfortunately, this means most 90-year-olds get a negative number.

But even on other, non-practical measures of the value of a life, I agree with you...I see no way to argue that the 5-year-old isn't more valuable. Give the 5yrold an expensive and prolonged terminal illness, and the calculus might change.

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What about the fact that the 90 year may still be able to self support while the 5 year COSTS money. The 5 years old value is untested future potential economic value. But any 5 year (other then infant models) have -economic value, no?