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Do Defaults Save Lives?

Eric J. Johnson
Columbia University - Columbia Business School

Daniel G. Goldstein
London Business School



Science, Vol. 302, pp. 1338-1339, 2003

Abstract:     
The article discusses how should policy-makers choose defaults regarding organ donors. First, consider that every policy must have a no-action default, and defaults impose physical, cognitive, and, in the case of donation, emotional costs on those who must change their status. Second, note that defaults can lead to two kinds of misclassification, willing donors who are not identified or people who become donors against their wishes. Changes in defaults could increase donations in the United States of additional thousands of donors a year. Because each donor can be used for about three transplants, the consequences are substantial in lives saved.

Keywords: organ donors, donation of organs, donation of tissues, transplantation

Accepted Paper Series

Date posted: January 09, 2009 ; Last revised: January 09, 2009

Suggested Citation

Johnson, Eric J. and Goldstein, Daniel G., Do Defaults Save Lives? (Nov 21, 2003). Science, Vol. 302, pp. 1338-1339, 2003. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1324774


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Contact Information

Eric J. Johnson (Contact Author)
Columbia University - Columbia Business School ( email )
3022 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
United States
Daniel G. Goldstein
London Business School ( email )
Sussex Place
Regent's Park
London, London NW1 4SA
United Kingdom
+44 0 20 7000 8611 (Phone)
+44 0 20 7000 8601 (Fax)
HOME PAGE: http://www.dangoldstein.com
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