Working Paper: NBER ID: w20378
Authors: Judd B. Kessler; Alvin E. Roth
Abstract: Over 10,000 people in the U.S. die each year while waiting for an organ. Attempts to increase organ transplantation have focused on changing the registration question from an opt-in frame to an active choice frame. We analyze this change in California and show it decreased registration rates. Similarly, a "field in the lab" experiment run on actual organ donor registration decisions finds no increase in registrations resulting from an active choice frame. In addition, individuals are more likely to support donating the organs of a deceased who did not opt-in than one who said "no" in an active choice frame.
Keywords: organ donation; registration; choice architecture
JEL Codes: D02; D04; D47
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Active choice frame (Y60) | next-of-kin decisions about organ donation (D64) |
| Opt-in frame (Y60) | next-of-kin decisions about organ donation (D64) |
| Active choice frame (Y60) | subjects' likelihood to register as donors (D64) |
| Opt-in frame (Y60) | subjects' likelihood to register as donors (D64) |
| Changing the organ donor registration question from an opt-in frame to an active choice frame (K16) | registration rates (R48) |
| Changing the organ donor registration question from an opt-in frame to an active choice frame (K16) | likelihood of organ transplantation (I14) |