"Womb for Rent": International Service Trade Employing Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ARTs). Issue 3 (14th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pelzman, Joseph
• Is Part Of: Review of international economics. Volume 21:Issue 3(2013:Aug.)
• Page Start: 387
• Page End: 400
• Publication Date: 2013-07-14
• Subjects: International economic relations -- Periodicals; International finance -- Periodicals; Economic policy -- Periodicals; 330
• DOI: 10.1111/roie.12043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-7576

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Infertility affects approximately 2–3 million married couples in the USA and a larger cohort of unmarried men and women. For those not inclined to adopt, science has provided another option, one based on assisted reproduction through artificial insemination, commonly known as <italic>in vitro</italic> fertilization (IVF). Under this framework a woman, designated as a "surrogate", bears a baby on behalf of the intended parents with the objective of relinquishing her rights to the child after birth. The subcontract for the services of a "surrogate" or more specifically for the use of her "womb" can be viewed as part of the literature on outsourcing of production by a vertically integrated family. The lack of universal enforcement of "surrogacy" contracts in the USA creates a demand for outsourcing of surrogacy services. One beneficiary of this uncertainty in enforcement is India which provides gestational services to intended international parents.</p> </abstract>