Market Failure in Kidney Exchange

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2019
Volume: 109
Issue: 11
Pages: 4026-70

Authors (5)

Nikhil Agarwal (not in RePEc) Itai Ashlagi (not in RePEc) Eduardo Azevedo (University of Pennsylvania) Clayton R. Featherstone (Baylor University) Ömer Karaduman (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

1.609 = (α=2.01 / 5 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We show that kidney exchange markets suffer from market failures whose remedy could increase transplants by 30 to 63 percent. First, we document that the market is fragmented and inefficient; most transplants are arranged by hospitals instead of national platforms. Second, we propose a model to show two sources of inefficiency: hospitals only partly internalize their patients' benefits from exchange, and current platforms suboptimally reward hospitals for submitting patients and donors. Third, we calibrate a production function and show that individual hospitals operate below efficient scale. Eliminating this inefficiency requires either a mandate or a combination of new mechanisms and reimbursement reforms.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:109:y:2019:i:11:p:4026-70
Journal Field
General
Author Count
5
Added to Database
2026-01-24