Monetary value and cost analysis of a youth voluntary program on road safety in Iran

Abstract Objectives: Volunteering has great economic and social benefits, but it is neglected due to the voluntary nature of the work. The purpose of this study was to assess the monetary aspect of voluntary activities in the plan of Iranian National Safety and Health for New Year Holidays passengers and analyze cost analysis of the implementation of this plan by youth volunteers.Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 1574 volunteers outlined in this plan were analyzed from Wage Replacement and Replacement Cost approach for monetary evaluation of voluntary activities. In addition, the cost benefit analysis of a Red Crescent voluntary plan is calculated by "value audit and volunteer investment" (VIVA) technique.Results: In the mentioned road safety plan, the sum of the economic value of volunteering work in the Nowruz passenger's safety and health plan is multiplied by the number of working hours of youth volunteers per day, the number of young people and the average wage was earned at an hour, which was obtained as $ 69885.6. also Viva rate is 10.6$ means every dollar Red crescent spent will cost more than 10$ if it wasn’t voluntary. Discussion: According to the findings, it seems that the voluntary plan for safety and health of New Year holidays passengers had been economically profitable for the Red Crescent population as well as for the government because of its high revenue compared to the its cost.