Annie Zaidi has an intersting post on the economics of motherhood.

Say, that a female labourer has given birth to a kid, and the husband may or may not be around to share in the responsibilities of bringing up a kid.

She would have to get back to work in a couple of days, or she won't be able to eat. The child will not be taken care of well, may not even be fed properly. In such a situation, what are the options for a society, considering everyone's rights, responsibilities and duties?

- Let Khairi's baby die. It is unwanted and if the mother cannot keep it alive, well, tough!
- Insist that Khairi's husband pay for the child. Acting on the philosophy that there is no such thing as uncomplicated sex, and that reproduction is the natural outcome thereof.
- Find out whose decision it was to have the baby (after having established without doubt that abortion facilities were freely available to the couple) to assign responsibility for the child.
- Pay for the baby collectively (through taxes), but not enough for Khairi's survival.

Read the entire post on Known Turf.