Can Early Child Development Strengthen the Economy?

Social scientists say that nature and nurture are both critical in the rearing of children. They recognize that genes have a certain amount of influence in the person that a child becomes. For example, a child who inherits athletic ability in their genes is more likely to become a good athlete than a child who did not. In the same way, a child who inherits musical ability will more than likely have greater musical success than those who do not.

Although genes are influential, nurture is also powerful. A child whose parents encourage participation in sports and help them to develop athletic skills can excel in sports even though it does not come naturally. The same is true with music. Whereas genes are inherited from parents without anything that parent or child can do about them, there are actions and environmental things that parents can do, such as reading to children from the time they are born and giving them lots of experiences, such as going to a park to play.

Middle class and wealthy parents usually have the time and money to invest in providing a healthy nurturing experience for their children. However, lower class parents as well as those living in poverty do not.

James J. Heckman, a Professor of Economics at The University of Chicago as well as a Nobel Laureate in Economics and an expert in the economics of human development, authored an interesting paper about early childhood development titled “The Heckman Equation – Invest in early childhood development: Reduce deficits, strengthen the economy.” 

The highest rate of return in early childhood development comes from investing as early as possible, from birth through age five, in disadvantaged families. Starting at age three or four is too little too late, as it fails to recognize that skills beget skills in a complementary and dynamic way. Efforts should focus on the first years for the greatest efficiency and effectiveness. The best investment is in quality early childhood development from birth to five for disadvantaged children and their families.

Heckman gave the following counsel about why it is important to invest in early childhood development for disadvantaged children and their families.

·         Those seeking to reduce deficits and strengthen the economy should make significant investments in early childhood education….

·         Early childhood development drives success in school and life….

·         Investing in early childhood education for at-risk children is an effective strategy for reducing social costs….

·         Investing in early childhood education is a cost-effective strategy for promoting economic growth….

Heckman shared the following principles “to make efficient and effective public investments that reduce deficits and strengthen the economy.”

·         Investing in early childhood education is a cost-effective strategy – even during a budget crisis.

·         Prioritize investment in quality early childhood education for at-risk children.

·         Develop cognitive AND character skills early. Invest in the “whole child.”

·         Provide developmental resources to children AND their families.

·         Invest, develop and sustain to produce gain.

Heckman concluded his paper: “Early childhood education is an efficient and effective investment for economic and workforce development. The earlier the investment, the greater the return on investment.”

Star Parker authored an article about Heckman’s counsel on early childhood development. She then noted that the Trump administration is trying to solve the housing crisis in the United States.

According to Newsweek, one of the actions being taken is to target immigrant families being served by Section 8. “‘Illegal aliens’ – foreign-born individuals without legal authorization or permission to stay in the U.S. – would not receive rental help over American citizens.” 

Another action that the Trump administration would like to take – according to Newsweek -- is to place “a two-year limit on assistance for beneficiaries [of Section 8 housing – helps low-income families, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and veterans with housing in the private market], with the exception of the elderly and individuals with disabilities, to incentivize self-sufficiency among able-bodied recipients”

After sharing information about Section 8 housing, Parker shared the following information: 

A widely circulated recent video of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner captures Turner explaining to a reporter the rationale of the HUD introducing time limits to residence in government housing. He talks about a woman who is one of three generations in her family living in the same government housing project. Turner justifies a period of assistance from government but, he maintains, welfare should not be a lifestyle.

I agree that “welfare should not be a lifestyle.” No able-bodied adult should be on welfare for years. If they are capable of working and have no little children needing their care, then they should be working for their livelihood. Welfare should be a “hand up” and not a “hand out.” One way to decrease the likelihood of a future living on welfare is to “invest in early childhood development.”

Wise parents will ensure that their children receive adequate nurturing and education to allow them to grow into productive adults. A wise society will ensure that children from disadvantaged families will also receive adequate education. Such families will strengthen their communities, states, and nations.