About John V. Krutilla
Lived 1922 – 2003 (aged 81). John V. Krutilla was an American economist.
John Vasil Krutilla (February 13, 1922 – June 27, 2003) was an American environmental economist, known for inventing the concept of existence value, the idea that undisturbed wilderness has economic value ("nonuse value"). According to Kenneth Arrow,
Krutilla was born in Tacoma, Washington; his parents were farmers who had immigrated there from Slovakia. After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, he earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Reed College in 1949, a master's degree from Harvard University in 1951, and a Ph.D. from Harvard in 1952. He worked from 1952 to 1955 at the Tennessee Valley Authority, before going to Resources for the Future where he worked until his retirement in 1988.
In Krutilla's essay, "Conservation Reconsidered," he introduced the idea of existence value.
With Allen V. Kneese, he was the inaugural winner of the Volvo Environment Prize in 1990.
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John V. Krutilla?
American economist
When was John V. Krutilla born?
John V. Krutilla was born on 13 February 1922 in Tacoma.
When did John V. Krutilla die?
John V. Krutilla died on 27 June 2003.
What was John V. Krutilla's occupation?
John V. Krutilla was an economist.
What nationality was John V. Krutilla?
John V. Krutilla was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John V. Krutilla. https://biography.guide/john-v-krutilla/
MLA: "John V. Krutilla." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-v-krutilla/.
Chicago: "John V. Krutilla." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-v-krutilla/.
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