ABSTRACT
WILLIAM BARNETT II, PhD Department of Economics, Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana
MICHAEL SALIBA, PhD Department of Economics, Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana
Almost 3,000 Americans die prematurely every year because they cannot get kidney transplants, and more than 40,000 others suer while waiting for such medical procedures. Moreover, even if the entire backlog of 40,000 patients waiting for a kidney transplant could be eliminated, some 22,000 new patients join the list each year (Scienti‹c Registry of Transplant Recipients 2000; United Network for Organ Sharing 2002). is health care problem is not due to lack of medical knowledge and technology or inadequate supplies
Introduction 95 Kidney Demand and Supply 96 e Market for Kidneys 98 Financing Transactions: Options, Futures, and Forward Markets 101 Spot Markets 102 Kidney Prices 105 Summary and Conclusions 106 Appendix 107 Discussion Questions 110 Acknowledgments 110 Endnotes 110 References 111
of medical personnel and relevant equipment. Rather, the problem is the result of a shortage of transplantable kidneys.
