Organ transplantation, like many areas of medicine, provides a poor basis fora political thesis that single-payer health care offers a more equitable allocation of scarce resources.

Contrary to John Edwards's populist rhetoric, the United States performs more organ transplants per capita than countries with single-payer health care systems, with better outcomes.

A bad incentive structure creates a dire shortage.

Roughly 10% of all organ transplants in the world are obtained on the black market. A new investigation by puts a brutal face on that underground world.

China is proposing forward-thinking transplant policies that offer to pay organ donors. These proposals challenge the status quo, however if China is serious about creating an incentive program, transparency and accountability will be vital to its integrity and safety.

What should we make of Arizona's new law for rationing organ transplants?

Patients would be better off if states were able to tailor the benefits that Medicaid covers—targeting resources to sicker people and giving healthy adults cheaper, basic coverage.