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[Posted on behalf of Evelyn Forget. - RBE] 
 
Does anyone know when and how the idea that human lives can be given an 
economic value originated? Am I correct in supposing that, before the  
twentieth century, this happened in only two contexts: slavery (where a 
market valuation emerged), and legal compensation for wrongful death which, 
at least in medieval Europe, was based on a static concept of social 
status,  
rather than any kind of economic productivity?  
 
When did valuation based on \"willingness to pay\" (for life-saving 
technology, for example) or the premium demanded to undertake risky jobs  
begin to supplant the idea that a life was worth the capitalized value of 
expected future earnings? Is there a good survey article on this issue? 
 
Thanks for any help.  
 
Evelyn L. Forget  
 
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