How an economist helped thousands get a new kidney

A lovely example of how microeconomics can improve the world.

This BBC article looks at Alvin Roth's work in creating a 'kidney exchange' to allow for thousands of patients to be matched with donor kidneys, saving lives.

This article doesn't really touch on much of the underlying economics, but the reality is that, in essence, Roth's work created a market for kidneys where none existed and saved lives as a result, perhaps underscoring the fact that the market is one of the greatest ever inventions, if indeed it was invented.

As an added bonus, this sort of thinking also helped win him the Nobel Prize.