title: Social and private benefits of assisted reproductive technology: a national survey-based evaluation in Israel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this paper was to measure the private and social benefits resulting from technological advances in fertility treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  An empirical model investigates the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for advances in the medical technology of in vitro fertilization (IVF) among the general public and among IVF patients in Israel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The empirical model's findings demonstrate that IVF patients and the general public value medical technology advances and have a positive WTP for it. The average WTP for IVF technology advances, among IVF patients, is US $3116.9 whereas for the general public it is US$2284.4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Available evidence suggests that advances in medical technology have delivered substantial benefits and appear to have contributed to improved wellbeing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics & Business Administration, Ariel University, Ariel, West Bank, Israel.
authors.forename: Limor Dina
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Gonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008875:Middle Aged; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: assisted reproductive technology; contingent valuation; in vitro fertilization; medical technology; willingness-to-pay