Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Open adoption, human capital formation, and uncertainty

  • Published:
Journal of Family and Economic Issues Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A model of child human capital formation is outlined, which is used to assess the consequences of uncertainty experienced by adoptive parents related to practices of openness in adoption. The model predicts that uncertainty in the adoption environment may lead to lower levels of human capital investments in adopted children. Empirical evidence indicates that uncertainty represented by fear of not bonding with the adopted child is the most important predictor of resistance to open adoption.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bachrach, C. A. (1986). Adoption plans, adopted children and adoptive mothers.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 48, 243–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bachrach, C. A., London, K. A. & Maza, P. L. (1991). On the path to adoption: Adoption seeking in the United States, 1988.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53, 705–718.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G. S. (1975).Human capital (2nd ed.). New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G. S. (1981)A treatise on the family. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G. S., Murphy, K. M., & Tamura, R. (1990). Human capital, fertility and economic growth.Journal of Political Economy, 98(5, Part 2), S12-S37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergsten, C. F., Horst, T., & Moran, T. H. (1978).American multinationals and American interests. Washington, DC: Brookings.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browning, M. (1992). Children and household economic behavior.Journal of Economic Literature, 30, 1434–1475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrd, A. D. (1988). The case for confidential adoption.Public Welfare, 46(4), 20–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Easterlin, R. (1986). Economic preconceptions and demographic research: A comment.Population and Development Review, 12, 517–528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ermisch, J. F. (1989). Purchased child care, optimal family size and mother's employment.Journal of Population Economics, 2, 79–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, A. (1979, Summer). Who has the ‘right’ to know?Public Welfare, 37(3), 34–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganderton, P. & Griffin, P. (1993). Impact of child quality on earnings: The productivity of schooling hypothesis.Contemporary Policy Issues, 11(3), 39–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groot, W., & Osterbeek, H. (1992). Optimal investment in human capital under uncertainty.Economics of Education Review, 11, 41–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kingsbury, N. M., & Greenwood, L. (1992). Fertility expectations and employment across three female cohorts.Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 13, 73–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medoff, M. H. (1993). An empirical analysis of adoption.Economic Inquiry, 31, 59–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michael, R. T. (1973). Education and the derived demand for children.Journal of Political Economy, 81(2, Part 2), S128-S164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pannor, R., & Baran, A. (1984). Open adoption as standard practice.Child Welfare, 63, 245–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paroush, J. (1976). The risk effect and investment in human capital.European Economic Review, 8, 339–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pindyck, R. S. (1988). Irreversible investment, capacity choice and the value of the firm.American Economic Review, 78, 969–985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenzweig, M. R., & Wolpin, K. I. (1992). Are there increasing returns to the intergenerational production of human capital?: Maternal schooling and child intellectual achievement. Unpublished manuscript, University of Pennsylvania.

  • Schultz, T. W. (1973). The value of children: An economic perspective.Journal of Political Economy, 81(2, Part 2), S2-S13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigmund, P. E. (1980).Multinationals in Latin America: The politics of nationalization. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silber, K., & Dorner, P. M. (1990).Children of open adoption and their families. San Antonio: Corona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thurow, L. C. (1970).Investment in human capital. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddoups, S. (1991). Resistance to open adoption. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Social Work, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

  • Watson, K. W. (1988). The case for open adoption.Public Welfare, 46(4), 24–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, R. J. (1973). A new approach to the economic theory of fertility behavior.Journal of Political Economy, 81(2, Part 2), S14-S64.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 89154, Las Vegas, NV

    Jeffrey Waddoups (Assistant Professor)

Authors
  1. Jeffrey Waddoups
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

His research interests include labor market mobility and human capital formation in the household. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Utah in 1989.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Waddoups, J. Open adoption, human capital formation, and uncertainty. J Fam Econ Iss 15, 5–21 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02353721

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02353721

Key words

Search

Navigation