True and perceived risks People often overestimate frequency and seriousness of sensational causes of death and underestimate risks from familiar causes Elimination of all risk is impossible An on-going dilemma is Should the government spend the most money on areas with the greatest impact or areas where the most people are upset?True and Perceived Risks • People often overestimate overestimate frequency and seriousness of sensational causes of death, and underestimate underestimate risks from familiar causes. • Elimination of all risk is impossible impossible. • An on-going dilemma dilemma is: Should the government spend the most money on areas with the greatest impact greatest impact, or areas where the most people are upset ?