What black markets can teach us about the economy

What black markets can teach us about the economy

From Think from KERA by KERA

June 2, 2026 · 46 min

About this episode

Alvin E. Roth discusses the insights black markets provide into economic principles and controversial transactions.

To really understand the nuts and bolts of economics, look to the black market. Alvin E. Roth is Craig and Susan McCaw Professor of Economics at Stanford University and the George Gund Professor of Economics and Business Administration Emeritus at Harvard University. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2012. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his work on organ donation which led him to study what he called “repugnant transactions” like sex and drugs and why he feels banning them completely doesn’t always have the effect we think it does. His book is “ Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales, What Controversial Transactions Reveal About How Markets Work .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

People in this episode

Host: Krys Boyd

Guest: Alvin E. Roth

Topics covered

  • black markets
  • economics
  • organ donation
  • repugnant transactions
  • market dynamics

Keywords

  • black market
  • economics
  • organ donation
  • repugnant transactions
  • Nobel Prize
  • Alvin E. Roth
  • Krys Boyd

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Stanford University, Harvard University

Books & works: Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales, What Controversial Transactions Reveal About How Markets Work

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