Yep, on average I'd say it's a bad deal. But if I were dirt poor in China, and I really did think that $3400 would be enough to give me the kick start to lift

Yep, on average I'd say it's a bad deal. But if I were dirt poor in China, and I really did think that $3400 would be enough to give me the kick start to lift myself permanently out of poverty, I'd do it. I suppose the real problem is that there's some minimum rational price for which it's sensible to sell a kidney... and a bunch of irrational people who are willing to sell their kidneys for less than that. So none of the rational people will ever get a look in, and a legalised kidney trade would only lead to misery rather than good deals.