The Economy of Adoption: Love or/and Money

Abstract

This article analyzes the adoption economy in Russia. The main research question is how economic exchanges between adoptive parents and children take place when altruistic behavior is normatively encouraged and profit-making is stigmatized. Qualitative data were collected from 88 individual semi-structured interviews, an observation diary, documents, and photographic materials. Based on the concept of relational work by Zelizer, we analyze economic exchanges between members of foster families and identify two main relational combinations that foster families develop: quasi-parental and contract—economic exchanges are made in the logic of long-term and short-term relations respectively. Quasi-parental relational packages develop in most families, regardless of the form of the child’s adoption. The study demonstrated that the essential motives observed in foster families do not contradict the established similarity of emotional relationships between foster parents and children.