Chapter Two

Chapter 2: The effects of Supply and Demand

http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12380981

Summary

The article I have chosen talks about the increase demand of transplant surgery. As the demand increases for transplants, more and more money is being shifted to help support the many people who receive the surgery. Statistics and researches have shown that last year, there were more then 7,000 American deaths caused by the long wait for transplants. Many researchers found that people who need kidneys, the most demanded body part, only got one if there were the one in ten. The article also talks about how the kidneys are so demanded that a doctor in India even drugged people to get their kidneys even if they refused the $2000 offer. According to the humans-rights groups, prisoners in China who were to be executed were to give up their kidneys with "consent".

Connection

The article's connection to chapter 2 is that it is about supply and demand. People around the world really need kidneys when they have a kidney failure. The kidneys also have to have a certain match before being able to transfer. This makes the demand even higher because the chances of getting a corresponding kidney are lowered. Since there is a lower supply of kidneys, the price elasticity of demand for the organs is very close to being inelastic. Kidneys are also inelastic products because the kidneys can only be replaced with kidneys. Many people who need kidneys are willing to play a high price in order to get them. They are in such a need that people are willing to steal them to be sold.

Reflection

I feel that since the demand of kidneys is high, people should take kidneys from people who might die but still have a healthy kidney. They could also take the kidneys from convicts in jail because they won't need it anyways. This seems very wrong because these inmates are people too, but maybe the government can make it incorporated with some of the punishments for some crimes that are committed. There are many people in jail and this will help to lower some of the demand for kidneys. The stories of people having their kidneys taken while unconscious are very frightening. If I were in need of a organ I would hope to receive one as soon as possible because I would feel helpless and scared without one. I feel that many people are very selfish for example when people who are going to die, they want their organs to be left inside them. If someone close to you were in the situation of needing an organ, your perspective of giving up your organ would change dramatically. Imagine visiting a country and ending up being kidnaps and awakening to find out that your kidney has been kidnapped!