Morbidity due to Air Pollution in Cotonou: An Assessment of the Psychological Cost

Abstract

Atmospheric pollution is a negative externality whose health costs are significant. In this article we assessed the psychological cost or cost of suffering due to pollution-related morbidity. The Contingent Valuation (CV) method has allowed us to estimate the average monthly psychological cost of disease for a household head based on the Willingness To Pay (WTPs) of household heads to halve air pollution in the city of Cotonou. This assessment is one of the few in the city of Cotonou or even in West Africa. The analysis of the WTPs with a Tobit model has allowed us to derive the average WTP, which represents the psychological cost of morbidity whose value is estimated at FCFA 1,200/month per household head. This result can validly serve as the basis for decision-making in line with the polluter pays principle.