The Shortage in Market‐Inalienable Human Organs: A Consideration of “Nonmarket” Failures

Abstract

Abstract. It is widely believed that if only we allowed a market in organs, supply would increase and shortages would disappear. However, there is considerable evidence that we have not wrung all the supply we can out of the donative system. This essay argues that shortages in organs are due to inadequate procurement effort rather than the inefficiency of appeals to donor altruism. The insufficiency of effort is ascribed to (1) ignorance of the regulatory authorities and the participants with respect to the nature of the production system in which they are engaged, (2) problems inherent in a production system that relies on exhorting donors, and (3) the well‐known limitations of the nonprofit organizations that are the key actors in this production system.