Moral Economics

In Moral Economics, Nobel laureate Alvin E. Roth explores markets that many consider morally controversial, from organ sales to prostitution and medical aid in dying.

He argues markets are moral systems that allocate access and signal social values, and shows how bans often drive transactions underground, producing harmful side effects.

Roth combines economic analysis, case studies, and policy discussion to advocate evidence-based experimentation and careful regulation.

The book examines how social support, professional norms, and institutional design affect the functioning and ethics of markets.

Throughout, Roth emphasizes designing systems that align incentives with societal values while acknowledging moral disagreement and practical constraints.