Kidney exchange makes it into fiction on the Oct.23 episode of Grey's Anatomy, even more complicated than in real life (or at least complicated in different ways).
"Miranda pulls all the surgical residents and interns for a "domino surgery," -- 12 kidney transplants in six O.R.s at the same time. "This whole surgery is a giant house of cards. If we lose one donor, we lose them all," Miranda advises the team. Complications arise with one young man whose estranged father is paying him $10,000 to donate his kidney. Izzie complains to Miranda, but they all agree to turn a blind eye so that the surgery -- which is making national news -- can go on. The surgeries are canceled when a female donor learns that her husband's donor is also his lover of three years and decides not to donate her kidney. Miranda reminds her that five other peoples' lives are on the line as well and the woman agrees to go ahead with the surgery. "
{I'm guessing they mean 6 transplants in 12 O.R.s, 6 for the nephrectomies and 6 for the transplants, but I didn't see the show...A.R.}
HT to Greg Barron
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Housemate match
A matching service run by the Atlanta JCC: Housemate Match
"Housemate Match (HMM) is a unique, nationally recognized, home sharing program that matches mature adult homeowners who have extra room in their homes with adults (tenants) seeking a roommate in a beautiful and safe place to live in the Atlanta area.
HMM provides rooms to rent for those who prefer to share a home rather than living alone and for those who choose to remain in their home and age in place.
International friends are welcome. "
"Housemate Match (HMM) is a unique, nationally recognized, home sharing program that matches mature adult homeowners who have extra room in their homes with adults (tenants) seeking a roommate in a beautiful and safe place to live in the Atlanta area.
HMM provides rooms to rent for those who prefer to share a home rather than living alone and for those who choose to remain in their home and age in place.
International friends are welcome. "
Pawn shops--high interest loans for the credit challenged
The Telegraph reports on the credit crisis in England: Financial crisis: hard-up consumers are selling jewellery for cash
Pawnbrokers make loans with goods as collateral, and mostly items are redeemed.
"Pawnbrokers are distinct from high street buy-back shops such as Cash Converters, where a customer will sell an item with the option to buy it back 28 days later. If the customer doesn't repurchase the item, it goes into the shop to be sold (items are not usually limited to gold and jewellery; they can be electrical goods, for example).
Pawnbrokers are regulated alongside banks and other lenders by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Borrowing through a pawnbroker may not be suitable for everyone and high interest rates mean it is not a long-term solution, as they themselves acknowledge, but sometimes it can resolve short-term cash flow problems. "
Pawnbrokers make loans with goods as collateral, and mostly items are redeemed.
"Pawnbrokers are distinct from high street buy-back shops such as Cash Converters, where a customer will sell an item with the option to buy it back 28 days later. If the customer doesn't repurchase the item, it goes into the shop to be sold (items are not usually limited to gold and jewellery; they can be electrical goods, for example).
Pawnbrokers are regulated alongside banks and other lenders by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Borrowing through a pawnbroker may not be suitable for everyone and high interest rates mean it is not a long-term solution, as they themselves acknowledge, but sometimes it can resolve short-term cash flow problems. "
Congestion in the supply chain for new doctors
A new doctor needs not only a place in medical school, but also some clinical rotations in hospitals while still a medical student, and a residency position after graduation. New medical schools, and medical schools that wish to increase their class size, need to find these for their students, which is one of the constraints on increasing the size of US medical school output. The Chronicle of Higher Education describes the situation in Arizona: Shortage of Training Slots Threatens to Stall Influx of New Doctors. (An ungated version will be available for five days at http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=hVntG8hqVPcppSXRz6qmdkfdQtSZNB5V )
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Britain votes to allow human-animal hybrids
On the repugnant transaction front, the Telegraph reports that after considerable debate, MPs vote to allow human-animal hybrids
"Following a landmark Commons vote, Britain will become one of a handful of countries in the world to encourage ground-breaking research by implanting human cells into an egg taken from an animal, usually a rabbit.
Pro-life MPs warned that the step could lead to the creation of half-human, half-ape "humanzees" or "minotaurs" - a claim denied by the Department of Health.
Hybrids - called "admixed embryos" by the scientific community - are banned in at least 21 countries, but scientists believe that they could be used to find cures for dozens of serious conditions, from heart disease to dementia.
MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill after being told that it could revolutionise the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, bringing to a close one of the most bitter Parliamentary wrangles of recent years. "
"Following a landmark Commons vote, Britain will become one of a handful of countries in the world to encourage ground-breaking research by implanting human cells into an egg taken from an animal, usually a rabbit.
Pro-life MPs warned that the step could lead to the creation of half-human, half-ape "humanzees" or "minotaurs" - a claim denied by the Department of Health.
Hybrids - called "admixed embryos" by the scientific community - are banned in at least 21 countries, but scientists believe that they could be used to find cures for dozens of serious conditions, from heart disease to dementia.
MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill after being told that it could revolutionise the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, bringing to a close one of the most bitter Parliamentary wrangles of recent years. "
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 --market mechanisms
The bailout bill is pretty terse on the details of market design: here's the relevant section of H.R.1424, part b,SEC. 113. MINIMIZATION OF LONG-TERM COSTS AND MAXIMIZATION OF BENEFITS FOR TAXPAYERS
"(b) Use of Market Mechanisms- In making purchases under this Act , the Secretary shall--
(1) make such purchases at the lowest price that the Secretary determines to be consistent with the purposes of this Act ; and
(2) maximize the efficiency of the use of taxpayer resources by using market mechanisms, including auctions or reverse auctions, where appropriate.
(c) Direct Purchases- If the Secretary determines that use of a market mechanism under subsection (b) is not feasible or appropriate, and the purposes of the Act are best met through direct purchases from an individual financial institution, the Secretary shall pursue additional measures to ensure that prices paid for assets are reasonable and reflect the underlying value of the asset."
HT to Guhan Subramanian
"(b) Use of Market Mechanisms- In making purchases under this Act , the Secretary shall--
(1) make such purchases at the lowest price that the Secretary determines to be consistent with the purposes of this Act ; and
(2) maximize the efficiency of the use of taxpayer resources by using market mechanisms, including auctions or reverse auctions, where appropriate.
(c) Direct Purchases- If the Secretary determines that use of a market mechanism under subsection (b) is not feasible or appropriate, and the purposes of the Act are best met through direct purchases from an individual financial institution, the Secretary shall pursue additional measures to ensure that prices paid for assets are reasonable and reflect the underlying value of the asset."
HT to Guhan Subramanian
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Market for books in translation
The Frankfurt book fair sounds like it's a lot of fun for publishing professionals, but it also sounds like the market for books to translate hasn't been changed much by technology: Wheeling and Dealing and Finding Books to Translate Into Dutch. Much of the information seems to be passed between people who know each other.
Market for Ivory
Ebay to Ban Sales of Ivory Products in January
There are lots of reasons that transactions can become repugnant: "EBay is banning the sale of ivory products to help protect African and Asian elephants."
''EBay's decision to wash its hands of the uncontrollable, bloody ivory trade is commendable and should set an example for others,'' said Teresa Telecky, policy director for Humane Society International.
There are lots of reasons that transactions can become repugnant: "EBay is banning the sale of ivory products to help protect African and Asian elephants."
''EBay's decision to wash its hands of the uncontrollable, bloody ivory trade is commendable and should set an example for others,'' said Teresa Telecky, policy director for Humane Society International.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Academic job market during a recession
The Chronicle of Higher Ed informally surveys supply and demand across academic disciplines: Job Market: Optimism, Tempered by Worries--Prospects for Ph.D.'s in some fields are decent, despite economic woes
(ungated version here for five days: http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=28qCgnMR5vznkhvXJdjPyXrMks4NssKk)
In a recession following a stock market decline, more professors may delay retirement, state universities may freeze hiring, non-academic hiring may slow down, all of which could potentially affect academic hiring, both by changing demand and by changing the nature of demand (e.g. changing the mix of tenure track versus other positions).
(ungated version here for five days: http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=28qCgnMR5vznkhvXJdjPyXrMks4NssKk)
In a recession following a stock market decline, more professors may delay retirement, state universities may freeze hiring, non-academic hiring may slow down, all of which could potentially affect academic hiring, both by changing demand and by changing the nature of demand (e.g. changing the mix of tenure track versus other positions).
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Market for drugs in Naples
The Times of London writes of the drug market in Naples, where market norms are breaking down.
Apparently the proverbial honor among thieves has its limits:
"The viciousness appalled even high-ranking crime bosses. Targeting innocent relatives of clan members is supposedly against the unwritten rules of Italy’s mafias. The Camorra syndicates of the area, however, had little time for niceties when they saw their status as rulers of Europe’s single biggest drugs market threatened. "
One of the bosses reflects "“There is a big difference between now and then, between my generation and the one coming of age now,” he says, drawing heavily on a cigarette. “There is too much money at stake. As a result there are no more values, no more rules or principles. Before, people kept their word and answered for their actions. We called them men of consequence. But now everyone wants to become a boss. Any young punk wants to have power, wants to be someone. They make a mess of things and don’t want to carry responsibility. "
Apparently the proverbial honor among thieves has its limits:
"The viciousness appalled even high-ranking crime bosses. Targeting innocent relatives of clan members is supposedly against the unwritten rules of Italy’s mafias. The Camorra syndicates of the area, however, had little time for niceties when they saw their status as rulers of Europe’s single biggest drugs market threatened. "
One of the bosses reflects "“There is a big difference between now and then, between my generation and the one coming of age now,” he says, drawing heavily on a cigarette. “There is too much money at stake. As a result there are no more values, no more rules or principles. Before, people kept their word and answered for their actions. We called them men of consequence. But now everyone wants to become a boss. Any young punk wants to have power, wants to be someone. They make a mess of things and don’t want to carry responsibility. "
Black market in poverty--fraudulent ration cards
The Hindu reports: Hi-tech foodgrains rationing system introduced for below poverty line families
"Bangalore: The State Government has introduced a hi-tech rationing system which will ensure the timely supply of foodgrains to people living below the poverty line and simultaneously prevent black-marketing and circulation of bogus ration cards. ...
"Governments in the State over the past three decades have found it difficult to check the rampant black-marketing in foodgrains and circulation of bogus ration cards, although it is evident that politicians have been behind the large-scale issue of below poverty line cards in exchange for votes. "
"Bangalore: The State Government has introduced a hi-tech rationing system which will ensure the timely supply of foodgrains to people living below the poverty line and simultaneously prevent black-marketing and circulation of bogus ration cards. ...
"Governments in the State over the past three decades have found it difficult to check the rampant black-marketing in foodgrains and circulation of bogus ration cards, although it is evident that politicians have been behind the large-scale issue of below poverty line cards in exchange for votes. "
Assisted suicide in England, continued
The recent case of an Englishman whose family travelled with him to Switzerland to end his life has led to renewed debate on English laws against assisted suicide. The Telegraph quotes the British philosopher Mary (Baroness) Warnock:
""We have a moral obligation to other people to take their seriously reached decisions with regard to their own lives equally seriously," she said.
Her comments came after Mr James' parents were questioned by West Mercia Police after travelling with him to Switzerland. "
""We have a moral obligation to other people to take their seriously reached decisions with regard to their own lives equally seriously," she said.
Her comments came after Mr James' parents were questioned by West Mercia Police after travelling with him to Switzerland. "
The spot market for manual labor
Market for Day Laborers Sours With the Economy
"As the economy has worsened, the number of laborers gathering at the Home Depot here has grown, making the competition for fewer jobs that much fiercer. The newcomers have arrived from other cities, thinking things would be better in New York. Or they have been laid off from semipermanent jobs in manufacturing and construction, either as a result of the economy or tougher crackdowns on illegal immigrants. "
"As the economy has worsened, the number of laborers gathering at the Home Depot here has grown, making the competition for fewer jobs that much fiercer. The newcomers have arrived from other cities, thinking things would be better in New York. Or they have been laid off from semipermanent jobs in manufacturing and construction, either as a result of the economy or tougher crackdowns on illegal immigrants. "
Incremental changes
It is often easier to make incremental changes in a marketplace, rather than big ones all at once. The NY Times has a story on Yahoo's painstaking process of changing its home page, a process apparently common to big web portals: Changing That Home Page? Take Baby Steps.
"You could call it stealth innovation. The company’s goal is to end up several months from now with a completely different, and presumably better, front page — with its audience intact. The effort is as much art as science and seeks to balance the company’s desire to innovate with its fear of alienating users. And it offers an example of how online services are designed and improved in a world where a rival’s offering is just a click away.
The challenges are not unique to Yahoo. All kinds of Web sites, big and small, face similar issues as they leap from version 1.0 to version 2.0 and beyond. But the largest, most successful sites have the most to lose by springing sudden changes on their users, so they often exercise particular caution. Google, for instance, has said it tries to make changes to its search engine that, on their own, are imperceptible, but that taken together result in a better product over time. With the same goal in mind, eBay once took 30 days to gradually change the background color of its home page from gray to white. "
"You could call it stealth innovation. The company’s goal is to end up several months from now with a completely different, and presumably better, front page — with its audience intact. The effort is as much art as science and seeks to balance the company’s desire to innovate with its fear of alienating users. And it offers an example of how online services are designed and improved in a world where a rival’s offering is just a click away.
The challenges are not unique to Yahoo. All kinds of Web sites, big and small, face similar issues as they leap from version 1.0 to version 2.0 and beyond. But the largest, most successful sites have the most to lose by springing sudden changes on their users, so they often exercise particular caution. Google, for instance, has said it tries to make changes to its search engine that, on their own, are imperceptible, but that taken together result in a better product over time. With the same goal in mind, eBay once took 30 days to gradually change the background color of its home page from gray to white. "
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Financial Fraud, and law enforcement
Some parts of market design involve criminal law, and these depend for their effectiveness on law enforcement. The NY Times reports that the
F.B.I. Struggles to Handle Wave of Financial Fraud Cases
"The bureau slashed its criminal investigative work force to expand its national security role after the Sept. 11 attacks, shifting more than 1,800 agents, or nearly one-third of all agents in criminal programs, to terrorism and intelligence duties. Current and former officials say the cutbacks have left the bureau seriously exposed in investigating areas like white-collar crime...
"So depleted are the ranks of the F.B.I.’s white-collar investigators that executives in the private sector say they have had difficulty attracting the bureau’s attention in cases involving possible frauds of millions of dollars."
F.B.I. Struggles to Handle Wave of Financial Fraud Cases
"The bureau slashed its criminal investigative work force to expand its national security role after the Sept. 11 attacks, shifting more than 1,800 agents, or nearly one-third of all agents in criminal programs, to terrorism and intelligence duties. Current and former officials say the cutbacks have left the bureau seriously exposed in investigating areas like white-collar crime...
"So depleted are the ranks of the F.B.I.’s white-collar investigators that executives in the private sector say they have had difficulty attracting the bureau’s attention in cases involving possible frauds of millions of dollars."
Incentives in (British) medicine, continued
Doctors paid thousands not to send patients to hospital for treatment
The Telegraph reports "Family doctors are being paid thousands of pounds not to send their patients to hospital for specialist treatment, sparking fears over standards of care.
...Dozens of incentive schemes have been uncovered which allow GPs to profit by slashing the number of patients they refer for hospital care.
Under one scheme, GPs stand to gain £59 for every patient not referred to hospital, if they cut an average referral rate by between two and eight per cent. "
Recall my earlier post on a different but related issue.
The Telegraph reports "Family doctors are being paid thousands of pounds not to send their patients to hospital for specialist treatment, sparking fears over standards of care.
...Dozens of incentive schemes have been uncovered which allow GPs to profit by slashing the number of patients they refer for hospital care.
Under one scheme, GPs stand to gain £59 for every patient not referred to hospital, if they cut an average referral rate by between two and eight per cent. "
Recall my earlier post on a different but related issue.
More on Darkmarket, the Craigslist of Crime
It was always the case that if you wanted to strike up a conversation with an undercover policeman, you could walk into a bar and whisper that you were looking to hire a hitman. It turns out that this is true in cyberspace as well: Cybercrime Supersite 'DarkMarket' Was FBI Sting, Documents Confirm
"Like earlier crime sites, DarkMarket allowed buyers and sellers of stolen identities and credit card data to meet and do business in an entrepreneurial, peer-reviewed environment. Products for sale ran the gamut from specialized hardware, to electronic banking logins collected from phishing attacks, stolen personal data needed to assume a consumer's identity ("full infos") and credit card magstripe swipes ("dumps), which are used to produce counterfeit cards. Vendors were encouraged to submit their goods for review before offering them for sale.
...the FBI used DarkMarket to build "intelligence briefs" on its members, complete with their internet IP addresses and details of their activities on the site. In at least some cases, the bureau matched the information with transaction records provided by the electronic currency service E-Gold."
In any event, the FBI went out in character. You can read the final closedown message here: 56 Arrested in DarkMarket Sting, Says FBI
HT to Steve Leider (who is on the market this year)
"Like earlier crime sites, DarkMarket allowed buyers and sellers of stolen identities and credit card data to meet and do business in an entrepreneurial, peer-reviewed environment. Products for sale ran the gamut from specialized hardware, to electronic banking logins collected from phishing attacks, stolen personal data needed to assume a consumer's identity ("full infos") and credit card magstripe swipes ("dumps), which are used to produce counterfeit cards. Vendors were encouraged to submit their goods for review before offering them for sale.
...the FBI used DarkMarket to build "intelligence briefs" on its members, complete with their internet IP addresses and details of their activities on the site. In at least some cases, the bureau matched the information with transaction records provided by the electronic currency service E-Gold."
In any event, the FBI went out in character. You can read the final closedown message here: 56 Arrested in DarkMarket Sting, Says FBI
HT to Steve Leider (who is on the market this year)
Friday, October 17, 2008
DarkMarket
The London Times reports: Online crime marketplace DarkMarket closed following UK police raids
"DarkMarket was used to swap information about fraud techniques and to sell credit card details. In December, The Times revealed that websites such as DarkMarket were selling financial details of tens of thousands of Britons for less than £1. "
"DarkMarket was used to swap information about fraud techniques and to sell credit card details. In December, The Times revealed that websites such as DarkMarket were selling financial details of tens of thousands of Britons for less than £1. "
Assisted suicide: Switzerland and England
The London Times reports that prosecutors are looking into the case of a British citizen whose family helped him travel to a Swiss clinic to die: 'Second-class life' not enough for injured rugby star Daniel James
"More than 100 Britons are claimed to have travelled to Swiss clinic where Daniel died to make use of laws that allow assisted suicide. Most are in the final stages of a terminal illness.
Although assisted suicide is illegal in Britain and carries a sentence of up to 14 years in jail no one has been prosecuted for taking someone to Dignitas. The figure on assisted dying, was released by the clinic at the start of a High Court test challenge to the laws that ban aiding and abetting suicide. "
"More than 100 Britons are claimed to have travelled to Swiss clinic where Daniel died to make use of laws that allow assisted suicide. Most are in the final stages of a terminal illness.
Although assisted suicide is illegal in Britain and carries a sentence of up to 14 years in jail no one has been prosecuted for taking someone to Dignitas. The figure on assisted dying, was released by the clinic at the start of a High Court test challenge to the laws that ban aiding and abetting suicide. "
Black market for body parts
Former UCLA Exec Pleads Guilty to Body Trafficking
"The former chief of UCLA's cadaver program pleaded guilty Friday for his role in selling donated body parts to medical, drug and research companies in a scheme that netted up to $1 million, prosecutors said.
Henry Reid, 58, pleaded guilty in Los Angeles County Superior Court to one count of conspiracy to commit grand theft, with a special allegation that he damaged or destroyed more than $1 million worth of school property, which refers to the donated bodies."
"The former chief of UCLA's cadaver program pleaded guilty Friday for his role in selling donated body parts to medical, drug and research companies in a scheme that netted up to $1 million, prosecutors said.
Henry Reid, 58, pleaded guilty in Los Angeles County Superior Court to one count of conspiracy to commit grand theft, with a special allegation that he damaged or destroyed more than $1 million worth of school property, which refers to the donated bodies."
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