Introducing Incentives in the Market for Live and Cadaveric Organ Donations
Journal of Economic Perspectives
vol. 21,
no. 3, Summer 2007
(pp. 3-24)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
We evaluate the introduction of monetary incentives in the market for live and cadaveric organ donations. We show that monetary incentives would increase the supply of organs for transplant sufficiently to eliminate the very large queues in organ markets, and the suffering and deaths of many of those waiting, without increasing the total cost of transplant surgery by more than about 12 percent. We build on the value-of-life literature and other parts of economic analysis to estimate the equilibrium cost of live transplants for kidneys and livers. We also show that market price for kidneys will be determined by the cost of live donations, even though most organs will come from cadavers.Citation
Becker, Gary, S., and Julio Jorge Elías. 2007. "Introducing Incentives in the Market for Live and Cadaveric Organ Donations." Journal of Economic Perspectives, 21 (3): 3-24. DOI: 10.1257/jep.21.3.3JEL Classification
- D12 Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
- D40 Market Structure and Pricing: General
- I11 Analysis of Health Care Markets
- J17 Value of Life; Forgone Income
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