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The economics of international child adoption: An analysis of adoptions by U.S. parents

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  • Khun, Channary
  • Lahiri, Sajal

Abstract

The paper develops a two-period model of international child adoption by considering decision-making by a poor household and derive a number of testable predictions: the negative effect of income and the positive effect of household size on adoption. We provide supporting evidence based on a panel of U.S. adoptions from 178 countries during the last three decades. Our findings suggest that, on average, a one hundred-dollar increase in real per capita income in a sending nation reduces U.S. adoptions by three cases while a ten-million increase in child population raises adoptions by 18 cases.

Suggested Citation

  • Khun, Channary & Lahiri, Sajal, 2017. "The economics of international child adoption: An analysis of adoptions by U.S. parents," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 22-31.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:quaeco:v:64:y:2017:i:c:p:22-31
    DOI: 10.1016/j.qref.2016.07.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Channary Khun & Sajal Lahiri & Sokchea Lim, 2020. "Why Do U.S. Parents Prefer Private To Foster Care Adoptions? The Role Of Adoption Subsidies, Gender, Race, And Special Needs," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(4), pages 1757-1782, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child adoption; International adoptions; Adoptions in the U.S.; Welfare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General

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