In the newest Journal of Economic Perspectives (Summer 2007) is an article titled "Repugnance as a Constraint on Markets" by Alvin Roth. It's part of a symposium of three articles on organ transplants. I've skimmed it now and will read it more carefully later. Roth makes the claim that as economists we should continue to educate the public about efficiency and tradeoffs, but also be aware of the sources of repugnance that has led legislatures to outlaw drugs, prostitution, ticket scalping, and the sale of human organs, among other things.
It would be a great reading for an undergraduate seminar.
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