Tradeoffs in Formulating a Consistent National Policy on Adoption

Mary Hansen () and Daniel Pollack
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Mary Hansen: Department of Economics, American University
Daniel Pollack: Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University

No 2006-14, Working Papers from American University, Department of Economics

Abstract: Just as the courts must consider the tradeoff between the best interest of the child and parental rights in involuntary termination of parental rights, policy on international adoption must consider the tradeoffs between the best interest of the child and the long-term interests of the nation. We argue that countries that suspend international adoptions do not maximize social welfare. A consistent national policy to maximize the well-being of the children and society at large would be to devote resources today to the oversight of international adoption in accord with child protections under the Hague Convention, while at the same time developing a domestic system of care that provides for the physical and developmental needs of orphaned children in the context of permanent families.

Keywords: adoption; international adoption; rights of the child; social welfare; termination of parental right (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J13 K23 K36 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 18 pages
Date: 2006-11
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https://doi.org/10.17606/9vj7-0z90 First version, 2006 (application/pdf)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:amu:wpaper:1406

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