Who Gets What and Why will change how you see every choice, from college admissions to job offers to dating apps. Because in the end, getting what you want isn’t just about what you’re worth—it’s about how the market is designed.
From pairing new kidneys with transplant patients and students with public schools to matching doctors with hospitals and even bachelors with their online dates, Roth reveals the hidden rules that determine who gets what—and who gets left out. He shows that price alone often fails. Instead, success depends on three core principles: (having enough participants), safety (encouraging honest participation), and congestion control (giving everyone time to choose wisely). Who Gets What and Why will change how
Through gripping real-world stories—like redesigning the system that places medical residents, or stopping a “kidney exchange” that failed due to bad incentives—Roth proves that markets can be built, fixed, and made fairer. The book is not just about economics; it’s about the algorithms of life, love, and opportunity. He shows that price alone often fails