I took part in a panel on surrogacy in Sweden organized by Timbro. Watch my talk here:
One of the general points that I make is that while it is only the extent of the market that limits the division of labor, market-making is not costless. More importantly, the character of costs to be incurred while introducing and maintaining markets is not merely technological.
In order to protect the surrogate mothers and the intended parents, entrepreneurs and legislative committees should keep three points in mind:
- A surrogacy agreement employing a gestational carrier is not a form of adoption and should not be treated as such.
- Public debate is key to reach a broad consensus on the merits of surrogate motherhood.
- Full contractual enforcement of voluntary agreements between parties to a surrogacy contract is essential for proper functioning of a system that will provide the means to the ends that childless couples and surrogate mothers pursue.
Find a Swedish version of my article here, the slides to my talk here and the whole discussion here.
Pavel Kuchař 