Prompted Choice and Organ Donor Registrations

quasi-experimental evidence from Italy

Abstract

We examine the effects of introducing prompted choice on organ donation behavior. Applying a generalized difference-in-differences design, we take advantage of the gradual roll-out of a policy in Italy that integrated the question of organ donation preference into the process of identity card renewal. Our findings show that municipalities prompting the question saw a significant increase in consent registrations, although individuals retained the option to abstain from making a choice. We also provide novel evidence that regions with higher levels of registered consent have higher cadaveric organ donation rates.