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").
[1][2] According to Kenneth Arrow, "John Krutilla can fairly be said to have created or stimulated most of the agenda of modern environmental economics.
He pioneered in developing the idea later called 'existence value,' the value generated by the mere existence of an amenity, such as an unspoiled wilderness or species of animal or plants.
"[3]Krutilla was born in Tacoma, Washington;[4] his parents were farmers who had immigrated there from Slovakia.
[6] Krutilla is perhaps most famous for his essay, "Conservation Reconsidered," in which he coined the idea of Existence value.