Global Markets in Everything

Surrogate motherhood meets globalization.

When Reshma gives birth next month in this small Indian town, the newborn will be immediately handed over to its biological parents, non-resident Indians who live in London and who have been unable to bear a child on their own. In return for renting her womb, Reshma will be paid $2,800 - a significant sum by Indian standards.

..."These amounts are still nearly three times cheaper than what surrogacy in the UK would cost us," [the parents] say.

A little strange but I have a lot of respect for the surrogate mother and her husband:

"I have two cherubic children of my own," says Reshma, who withheld her real name for fear of disapproval by neighbors. "That couple has none. Imagine how much happiness this baby will give them."

...Reshma's husband Vinod - not his real name - says his paltry $50 montly pay as a painter would not be enough to educate his two children. He says the extra money will allow him to invest in his children's education and to buy a new home.

Thanks to Pablo Halkyard for the pointer.