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  • August 2012
  • Article
  • American Economic Review

Organ Allocation Policy and the Decision to Donate

By: Judd B. Kessler and Alvin E. Roth
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Abstract

Organ donations from deceased donors (cadavers) provide the majority of transplanted organs in the United States, and one deceased donor can save numerous lives by providing multiple organs. Nevertheless, most Americans are not registered organ donors despite the relative ease of becoming one. We study in the laboratory an experimental game modeled on the decision to register as an organ donor and investigate how changes in the management of the organ waiting list might impact the donation rate. We find that an organ allocation policy giving priority on waiting lists to those who previously registered as donors has a significant positive impact on registration.

Keywords

Organ Donation; Health; Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; Decision Making; Resource Allocation; Mathematical Methods; United States

Citation

Kessler, Judd B., and Alvin E. Roth. "Organ Allocation Policy and the Decision to Donate." American Economic Review 102, no. 5 (August 2012): 2018–2047.
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About The Author

Alvin E. Roth

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  • Kidney Exchange: An Operations Perspective By: Itai Ashlagi and Alvin E. Roth
  • Kidney Exchange: An Operations Perspective By: Itai Ashlagi and Alvin E. Roth
  • Forgoing Earned Incentives to Signal Pure Motives By: Erika L. Kirgios, Edward H. Chang, Emma E. Levine, Katherine L. Milkman and Judd B. Kessler
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