Global Mobility and Economic Incentives in Prenatal Tourism

Abstract

Prenatal tourism involves travelling to another country to give birth and securing citizenship for the child. This practice has surged due to socio-economic and legal factors, making it crucial for policymakers to understand its economic impact on sending and receiving countries. This chapter explores the economic drivers behind prenatal tourism and its effects on global mobility. Using a mixed-methods approach, it analyzes trends, challenges and opportunities and highlights economic incentives like better healthcare and long-term benefits for the child. It also discusses challenges for host countries, including healthcare revenue and resource strain, while examining the impact on origin countries. The findings are expected to reveal motivations such as dual citizenship and socio-economic mobility, offering suggestions for balanced immigration policies and sustainable healthcare financing and concluding, that prenatal tourism presents economic benefits but also complex challenges, requiring careful policy management to address both the incentives and impacts on global economies.