(Møtet blir på Norsk)

What is the social discount rate and how is it used?

“When deciding how to use resources, or to protect the environment, or when selecting other policies with longterm consequences, governments and their advisers often use a social discount rate. With such a rate, possible costs and benefits are assumed to be less important if they would come further in the future. Such a discount rate applies not only to the costs and benefits that will later come to existing people, but also across the lives of all future generations.”
(Cowen & Parfit, 1992)

We believe it is the case that a social discount rate of 4%, as used in the Norwegian healthcare system is too high and should be lowered or possibly eliminated to better reflect how Norway should weigh the social costs and benefits across time. But whether or not the rate should be lower is not the question of interest in this part of the project. Neither is this a feasibility study of how to lobby for such a change or what this would require. Instead, we want to explore the potential real-life consequences of reducing or eliminating the social discount rate in Norway.

Jørgen Ljønes fra Effektiv Altruisme Norge holder foredrag og åpner for samtale om helsediskonteringsaten og hvordan det påvirker prioriteringene som blir tatt i norsk helsevesen.