Concluding Comments
The last contribution of Becker to the field of health economics falls somewhat
outside of the framework of health as human capital and consumption good focused here,
but is still worth mentioning. Becker and Elias (2007) looked at the market for organ
donations and argued, with theory and empirical evidence, that a private market for
organs, including both live and cadaveric donations, could be welfare improving if
properly regulated. Their logic trusted on the role of financial incentives to reduce the gap
between the supply and demand of organs, a major problem for health systems around
the world. Though this proposal may seem somewhat farfetched, it is gaining increasing
attention in the public health debate in recent years, and has indeed been implemented in
a few specific markets.
Health economics represented a relatively small and somewhat late interest in the
broader research agenda of Gary Becker. Yet, it is difficult not to see his influence in
virtually every topic of research in the area involving any sort of theoretical analysis or
motivation. As in many other areas that he touched but briefly, Becker has left permanent
imprints on the economic analysis of health as consumption good and human capital. The
longevity of his ideas will continue to be strong complements to future advances in health
economics for a long time to come.