Why Is the U.S. the World's Sperm Pump?

Because of the profit motive, that's why, says the Marginal Revolution's Alex Tabarrok.

Comments

[Ayatollah Usoe]

An end to paid donations? Um, I didn't know one could get paid for donating sperm. To think of the money that's slipped through my fingers....

[chthus]

The Canadians may have another motive here. If they won't allow screened, paid-for, documented US sperm (usually med and grad students looking for some easy extra cash), then their citizens looking for this fertility option will be limited to freely-given Canuck sperm (donated by, well, anybody looking for a change of masturbating venue?). Couples who can afford it will head south for the satisfaction of grade US of A sperm, footing the bill themselves. This will leave the Canadian healthcare system relieved of the burden of many a fertility case.

[nm156]

Except for dealing with the results thereof, and in perpetuity henceforth.

[Douglas Fletcher]

I have a problem with eugenics. I don't understand why anyone would want to live in a world where everyone is named Eugene.

[chthus]

Very good nm, the Canadian citizens who are subsequently born will need to be covered under Canada's health care system. Or are you trying to imply that these in vitro conceived babies are somehow soulless monsters that Canada would rather not worry about?

But, back to the topic at hand, if 5,000 couples a year decide to foot the bill and go for the US spunk, even at a modest $50,000 (US$) per, that's a quarter billion a year the Canadian govt saves on it's health care costs.

[Anonymous]

America has always been the world leader in Eugenics. Hitler just gave it a bad name.

[nm156]

CHTHUS: Absolutely not. Merely pointing out that, while relieved of the fertility case burdens, the other burdens remain.