This study compares the organization of organs gift-giving and the propositions advocating the merits of a market for organ transplantation. A strong similarity appears since, on the one hand, the actual organization limits or prevents social relations (principle of anonymity of the gift) and, on the other, the market solution aims at ruling out social relations on the ground that a contract would be more efficient. Then the paper compares this organization to inheritance and life insurance. This comparison makes clear that kin's relations are an important part of the three processes in which wealth and resources are transmitted at the owner's death.
Economic sociology; Family; Markets; Organs gift-giving
