Pricing bodies

An econ class's ghoulish calculations

by Jan Schlain

posted 7/12/2011

"How much are you worth if you die?" U-M economics prof Sherrie Kossoudji asks a class of undergrads at Lorch Hall. "Why do ova cost more than sperm? Is it acceptable to sell your kidney?"

Clearly, this is not the kind of econ class that looks at, say, the global auto industry--though Kossoudji does sometimes mention motorcycles. She calls them "donor-mobiles"--as in organ donors.

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