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How would you price the earth?

Case Interview
New answer on Mar 19, 2021
6 Answers
985 Views
Anonymous A asked on Mar 16, 2021

Hi, how would you structure your framework for this question:

How would you price the earth?

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Ian
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replied on Mar 16, 2021
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

Henning's answer is clever, but is not an answer I would expect a (strategy consulting) interviewer to be happy with (sorry Henning!). They want you to do a market sizing here.

As such, the clear clarifying question here would be: "Is it safe to assume this is the price/value of earth to humans?" To which, the answer would surely be yes.

Then, you need to state that price = WTP = value. Value = everything that the earth can provide.

Method 1

So, you'll want to split up the earth by its major producing parts. This would be Land (surface), Water, and Materials (below surface land).

Estimate the value of agriculture (trees, crops, etc.), fishing, and materials (common earth metals like iron and copper as well as rare earth metals such as Lithium. Don't forget oil, gas, and coal!).

And voila.

Method 2

Estimate the world's GDP (you should know the US's, know that China is close to the same, then use the law of 80/20 to calculate the rest). Look at global growth rates. Use NPV calculation to determine NPV of Economic production of the earth.

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Anonymous replied on Mar 16, 2021

Easy answer: Close to zero.

If we assume that a buyer needs to be a higher-level civilization that has mastered faster-than-light star travel (so they can actually make use of this), we can also infer that all the assets on our plant (meaning the production capacity) does not have any value to them. They are so far advanced, that they would lough about our technology.

Therefore, the value of the earth is simply the value of it's parts, meaning the material value. So now we need to value the sum of all materials on earth. Our planet consists of mainly oxygen, silicon, iron, and a few others. Those elements are abundant in the universe, so basically worthless.

Two more potential sources of value:

  • Real estate (a spot close to the sun), but science finds more and more plants in similar proximity to their stars, so also 0.
  • Value of the combined fauna & flora. This is a tough one - but unless we assume that the aliens have some romantic fascination with living organisms on our planet, these would also not be of great value to anyone from the outside.

So: Nobody would pay a dime for this shitball ;)

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18
Adi
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replied on Mar 16, 2021
Accenture, Deloitte | Precision Case Prep | Experienced Interviewer & Career Coach | 15 years professional experience

Irrelevant & meaningless question in my view...I hope this wasnt asked in an Consulting interview?!

Love Henning's reply :). Any higher civilisation would think twice before even considering what to pay for Earth given humans have wiped out 70% of species in last 50 yrs- https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-gb/

There wont be anything left to price if we carry on the way we are.

And sorry this is not the answer to your question anyway :)

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Antonello
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replied on Mar 17, 2021
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, in addition to the solutions proposed by the other coaches in the discussion, I would like to suggest similar cases in the platform to practice with:

  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-much-would-you-charge-to-clean-all-the-windows-in-seattle-4965
  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/market-sizing-milk-consumption-5087
  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-would-you-calculate-the-value-of-a-cow-4982
  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/estimate-number-of-traffic-lights-in-a-london-5692

Hope it helps,
Antonello

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Clara
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replied on Mar 19, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I have seen weird and complex pricing quesitons -lately, how would you price this dinasour?-, but nothing like this. Is way too complex for consulting interviews, wouln´t loose too much time on it.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Gaurav
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Content Creator
replied on Mar 17, 2021
#1 MBB Coach(Placed 750+ in MBBs & 1250+ in Tier2)| The Only 360 coach(Ex-McKinsey + Certified Coach + Active recruiter)

Strange question indeed! Despite the fact that it is impossible and pointless to do, you can use Ian's answer is a scientific one and Henning's as more realistic. I would also vote for GPD Method, seems to be more applicable.

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Ian gave the best answer

Ian

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