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Reserve System Design for Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources in a Pandemic: Some Perspectives from the Field

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  • Parag A. Pathak
  • Govind Persad
  • Tayfun Sönmez
  • M. Utku Ünver

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought renewed attention to rationing guidelines for scarce medical resources. This paper describes the benefits of using a reserve system over a priority system in operationalizing compromises between certain ethical goals. In the last two years, more than a dozen states and local jurisdictions have adopted reserve systems in initial phases of vaccine distribution. We highlight several design issues arising in some of these implementations.

Suggested Citation

  • Parag A. Pathak & Govind Persad & Tayfun Sönmez & M. Utku Ünver, 2022. "Reserve System Design for Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources in a Pandemic: Some Perspectives from the Field," NBER Working Papers 30064, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:30064
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kim, Jaehong & Li, Mengling & Xu, Menghan, 2021. "Organ donation with vouchers," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    2. Scott Duke Kominers & Parag A. Pathak & Tayfun Sönmez & M. Utku Ünver, 2020. "Paying It Backward and Forward: Expanding Access to Convalescent Plasma Therapy Through Market Design," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 1007, Boston College Department of Economics.
    3. Parag A. Pathak & Tayfun Sönmez & M. Utku Ünver & M. Bumin Yenmez, 2024. "Fair Allocation of Vaccines, Ventilators and Antiviral Treatments: Leaving No Ethical Value Behind in Healthcare Rationing," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 70(6), pages 3999-4036, June.
    4. Tabarrok, Alexander (ed.), 2002. "The Entrepreneurial Economist: Bright Ideas from the Dismal Science," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195145038.
    5. Dur, Umut & Pathak, Parag A. & Sönmez, Tayfun, 2020. "Explicit vs. statistical targeting in affirmative action: Theory and evidence from Chicago's exam schools," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Joshua S Gans, 2022. "Optimal allocation of vaccines in a pandemic," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 38(4), pages 912-923.
    2. Scott Duke Kominers & Alex Tabarrok, 2022. "Vaccines and the Covid-19 pandemic: lessons from failure and success," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 38(4), pages 719-741.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D45 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Rationing; Licensing
    • D47 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Market Design
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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