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One Chance in a Million: Altruism and the Bone Marrow Registry

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  • Bergstrom, Ted C
  • Garratt, Rod
  • Sheehan-Connor, Damien

Abstract

Transplants of donated stem cells save the lives of many patients with blood diseases. Donation is somewhat painful, but rarely has lasting adverse effects. Patients can accept transplants only from donors with compatible immune systems. Those lacking a sibling match must seek donations from the population at large. The probability that two persons of the same race are compatible is less than 1/10,000. Health authorities maintain a registry of several million genetically-tested potential donors who have agreed to donate if asked. We study the peculiar structure of voluntary public good provision represented by the registry, and compare the marginal benefits and marginal costs of expanding the registry.

Suggested Citation

  • Bergstrom, Ted C & Garratt, Rod & Sheehan-Connor, Damien, 2008. "One Chance in a Million: Altruism and the Bone Marrow Registry," University of California at Santa Barbara, Economics Working Paper Series qt2xt1p3gf, Department of Economics, UC Santa Barbara.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdl:ucsbec:qt2xt1p3gf
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    Cited by:

    1. Bergstrom, Ted & Garratt, Rod & Leo, Greg, 2015. "Let me, or Let George? Motives of competing altruists," University of California at Santa Barbara, Economics Working Paper Series qt48m9547q, Department of Economics, UC Santa Barbara.
    2. Fève, Frédérique & Florens, Jean-Pierre, 2010. "A mathematical model for bone marrow donors' registries and cord blood banks," IDEI Working Papers 623, Institut d'Économie Industrielle (IDEI), Toulouse.
    3. Sönmez, Tayfun & Ünver, M. Utku & Yılmaz, Özgür, 2018. "How (not) to integrate blood subtyping technology to kidney exchange," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 193-231.

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