Alvin E. Roth (on moral economics)

In this thought-provoking three-part episode of Armchair Expert, Dax Shepard engages Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin E. Roth in a deep exploration of moral economics, centered on Roth’s book *Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales*. The conversation traces Roth’s academic journey from early enrollment at Columbia to his transformative work in market design, particularly the life-saving kidney exchange systems he helped create. They examine how societies grapple with morally contested markets—such as organ sales, sex work, surrogacy, and drug use—highlighting the distinction between moral repugnance and visceral disgust. Roth argues that outright bans often backfire by creating dangerous black markets and harming vulnerable populations, advocating instead for pragmatic, experimental policies like safe injection sites, tax credits for non-directed organ donors, and regulated markets that balance individual freedom with societal well-being. The dialogue expands into behavioral economics, with reflections on addiction, personal habits (like quitting smoking or stopping antiperspirant), and how subtle social cues—such as being called 'honey'—can evoke emotional responses rooted in power and class dynamics. The episode concludes with lighthearted yet insightful tangents on legal oddities like cannibalism and pet pig regulations, personal anecdotes about sperm donation, and a poignant reminder of human fragility inspired by the astronaut’s view of Earth from space.