Why is Time Varying Discounting Important in Epidemiology?
Time varying discounting is important because it provides a more nuanced understanding of the long-term impacts of health interventions. For example, public health policies aimed at disease prevention may have benefits that accrue far into the future. A constant discount rate might undervalue these long-term benefits, leading to underinvestment in prevention programs. By using time varying discount rates, policymakers can make more informed decisions that better reflect the true value of long-term health outcomes.
