{"id":2427,"date":"2012-03-27T16:00:07","date_gmt":"2012-03-27T16:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/?page_id=2427"},"modified":"2026-04-02T17:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T17:32:10","slug":"dh-2-2-the-gradient-effect","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/dh-2-2-the-gradient-effect\/","title":{"rendered":"DH 2.2 The socio-economic impact of early childhood education and care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investing in young children through ECD programs is one of the smartest investments a country can make to address inequality, break the cycle of poverty, and improve outcomes later in life&#8221; (World Bank Group, 2016, para. 1).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Early Years Study 4 (<\/em>McCain, 2020) provides compelling data showing the important role early childhood education can have in children&#8217;s lives. &nbsp;Chapter 3 &#8211; &#8220;A step up for all: ECE helps kids, families and communities thrive&#8221; &#8211; makes a strong case.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-ZSgEbK wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/earlyyearsstudy.ca\/report_chapters\/chapter-3-highlights\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Early Years Study 4: Chapter 3 Highlights<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-1DN50n wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What role can early childhood education and care play to address inequality?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What do the authors mean when they say that &#8220;ECE results in double dividends&#8221;?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Were any of the statistics new or surprising?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/files\/2018\/08\/alertbabyviktor-copy-300x246.jpg\" alt=\"Baby on tummy with head up facing camera.\" class=\"wp-image-8917\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Economic evidence makes a powerful argument for investing in early childhood development. Understanding this evidence and being able to voice the arguments can really strengthen funding requests, which must compete against other priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next video, Craig Alexander, former vice-president of economic analysis for the C.D. Howe Institute, discusses some of the research that points to early childhood education as an important investment for children, parents, the economy and society.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-ZYXpLA wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Alexander &#8211; economic benefits (2:41)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/142903514?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-alexander-economic-benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\">Alexander &#8211; economic benefits &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-HCuOc wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alexander says that while investing in early childhood is an &#8220;expensive proposition, it creates enormous benefits to the economy and to the society as a whole&#8221;. What are some of the examples he gives to support this statement?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can you see how early childhood education programs economically benefit families where you live?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2017, Alexander co-authored the report <em>Ready for life: A socio-economic analysis of early childhood education and care\u00a0<\/em>for the Conference Board of Canada. The report documents the role of early education in reducing inter-generational poverty by improving the future income prospects for children while lifting the labour participation of their mothers. The report recommends governments provide a minimum of two years of universal preschool education while improving program quality.\u00a0Read the Executive Summary of the report (pp. i &#8211; v).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-Z1grORK wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/strongnation.s3.amazonaws.com\/documents\/549\/ef794797-5930-4a99-a1a3-114fb227b736.pdf?1543251876&amp;inline;%20filename=%22Report:%20Ready%20for%20Life.pdf%22\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Ready for life: A socio-economic analysis of early childhood education and care<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Ready for life<\/em> report provides a wealth of information on how Canada compares internationally, a detailed cost-benefit analysis and more data that will help you to both understand and articulate the benefits of investing in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) from a Canadian perspective. Read the full report to explore this information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Returns on investments in early child development<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. James Heckman, a Nobel prize-winner in economics, and his colleague Flavio Cunha show that investments in early childhood programs are justified by the returns provided to society as a whole. They demonstrate that early childhood provides an unequaled period for the development of human capital. Each stage of life underpins the next. Investment in the foundation stage of early childhood provides a higher rate of return on investment (ROI) than investments later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/heckmanequation.org\/resource\/the-heckman-curve\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/files\/2017\/10\/Heckman-smartInvestment-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Graph titled Early Childhood Development is a smart investment: The earlier the investment, the greater the return.\nThe y-axis is labelled, Rate of return on investment in human capital. It has a 0 at the bottom but no other scale.\nThe x-axis is labelled, from left to right, Prenatal, 0-3, 4-5, School, and Post-school. Each of these segments is indicated by a colored, curved section.\nThe first section, prenatal, reaches the top of the y-axis. A top label refers to this section as, Prenatal programs.\nThe second section, 0-3, also labelled, Programs targeted toward the earliest years, is the second highest on the y-axis.\nThe third section, 4-5, labelled, Preschool programs is the next highest along the curve.\nThe fourth section, School, with a Schooling label is next highest.\nThe final section, Post-school, labelled, Job training, is the lowest part of the curve.\nThe bottom of the graph reads, Source: James Heckman, Nobel Laureate in Economics.\" class=\"wp-image-8593\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Click on this image to visit The Heckman Equation website in order to download this graphic and other resources.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-Zlmubf wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you were using this graphic in a presentation to donors, what would you say to explain how the work you are doing (or proposing for funding) is a worthwhile&nbsp;investment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can you think of other audiences who might find this information interesting or surprising?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-key-full-2coAHH wp-block-lazyblock-key-full\"><div class=\"key-full\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <em>The economics of inequality: The value of early childhood education<\/em> (2011), Heckman describes four conclusions from analyses of long-term studies on human development:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inequality in early life leads to inequality later in life for achievement, health and success.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social skills are as important as cognitive skills for impacting lifelong success and therefore should not be neglected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Investing in early childhood education has the potential to help people overcome disadvantages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The long-term economic savings are great for investments in early education. This is especially true when investments are made for disadvantaged children.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will have learned about the Abecedarian Approach in the Ecology of Childhood as well as the Communicating and Learning modules. The following article summarizes the long term economic and social benefits to recipients of&nbsp;early childhood interventions in the 1970\u2019s, including the Abecedarian program, and shows that if you look at data over time, the rate of return is even higher than previously thought.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-1xcnHF wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/heckmanequation.org\/resource\/research-summary-lifecycle-benefits-influential-early-childhood-program\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Research summary: The lifecycle benefits of an influential early childhood program<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next clip, Dr. Maureen Black, at the University of Maryland,&nbsp;discusses some of the long-term social and health impacts of the Abecedarian program on the children who participated.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-7VzgF wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Black \u2013 Abecedarian study (3:41)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/300602728?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-black-abecedarian-study\/\" target=\"_blank\">Black \u2013 Abecedarian study &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heckman and his team also looked at gender differences in the longterm interventions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-Z1s62po wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/heckmanequation.org\/resource\/gender-differences-benefits-influential-early-childhood-program-summary\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Gender differences in the benefits of an influential early childhood program summary<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-further-full-2ph4ia wp-block-lazyblock-further-full\"><div class=\"further-full\">\n<div class=\"wtkm\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;For more information and many more resources for advocacy, explore the Heckman Equation website.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-dCxrg wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/heckmanequation.org\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">EXPLORE<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Heckman Equation<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heckman\u2019s group has produced not only excellent research but also easy to understand materials that are very useful for early childhood advocates. Check out the top 20 resources here.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-NQCmI wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/heckmanequation.org\/top-20-resources\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">EXPLORE<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Heckman top 20 resources<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"WarnerEconomist\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Mildred Warner is an economist at Cornell University who studies the economics of child care. Here she discusses the economic rationale for investing in early child development and the benefits for children, families and the business community.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-1iGH2x wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Warner &#8211; economic benefits (2:51)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90189115?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-warner-economic-benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\">Warner &#8211; economic benefits &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next clips, Warner explains how traditional economic thinking needs to change to understand long-term, high yield investments in early childhood education and related programs for young children and their families. She challenges nations to re-interpret expenditures in early child development as investments.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z1cv7DL wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Warner &#8211; changing economic thinking (1:52)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90189174?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-warner-changing-economic-thinking\/\" target=\"_blank\">Warner &#8211; changing economic thinking &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z4Hfg6 wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Warner &#8211; social benefits of early education (2:05)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90189279?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-warner-social-benefits-of-early-education\/\" target=\"_blank\">Warner &#8211; social benefits of early education &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most arguments for public investment in early child development, particularly for investments in programs for disadvantaged children, are based on American studies, which have used economic modelling or projections into the future or on small-scale, experimental longitudinal studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now we have Canadian economic studies, including the actual cost-benefits demonstrated in Quebec.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-interact-DwdaB wp-block-lazyblock-interact\"><div class=\"interact-link context-container\">\n  <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/hscsr.rrc.ca\/secd\/interactions\/findingsFromQuebec\/findingsFromQuebec.html\" class=\"tap-container interact\">\n    <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"tap-content\">\n      <span class=\"tap-label\">INTERACT<\/span>\n      <span class=\"tap-description\">Findings from Quebec<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Investing in ECD in low and middle-income countries<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/files\/2018\/08\/baby.slum_-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Toddler standing in rubble lined street.\" class=\"wp-image-8920\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On a global level, the arguments for investing in early child development have become strong, empowered by evidence from research such as the Lancet series on early child development in developing countries and recent policy documents such as The Nurturing Care Framework (WHO and UNICEF).&nbsp; Economists and others who study global issues sometimes categorize countries based on the gross national income (GNI) per person. For example, \u201cthe World Bank divides the world&#8217;s economies into four income groups:&nbsp; high, upper-middle, lower-middle, and low\u201d (The World Bank, 2019). Particular attention is often paid to the lower income regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The burden and cost of inaction is high. A staggering 43 percent of children under five years of age\u2014an estimated 250 million\u2014living in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of suboptimal development due to poverty and stunting. The burden is currently underestimated because risks to health and wellbeing go beyond these two factors. A poor start in life can lead to poor health, nutrition, and inadequate learning, resulting in low adult earnings as well as social tensions. Negative consequences impact not only present but also future generations. Because of this poor start, affected individuals are estimated to suffer a loss of about a quarter of average adult income per year while countries may forfeit up to twice their current GDP expenditures on health and education&#8221;&nbsp;(Advancing Early Childhood Development, 2016, p.2).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next video, listen as Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, at the University of Toronto and Aga Khan University, stresses that investing in health and education goes beyond individual nations to a global responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-ZjOxIe wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Bhutta &#8211; investing (2:01)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/135874947?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-bhutta-investing\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bhutta &#8211; investing &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-Z1ifAxA wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What does Bhutta mean by saying that having a high number of young people proportionally in the population can be a population dividend or, if not addressed properly, could be the population quicksand?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why does he say that indirect investments in the economy can be effective, especially, for example, investing in girls?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-further-full-ZgbjVb wp-block-lazyblock-further-full\"><div class=\"further-full\">\n<div class=\"wtkm\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following reading from the 2016 Lancet series on early child development integrates the scientific, economic and social rationale for investing in ECD.&nbsp; Read the instructions about how to download this article &#8211; if you or organization do not already have access, you may be asked to &#8220;register for free&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-Z2hCmwc wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lancet\/article\/PIIS0140-6736(16)31701-9\/fulltext\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">The early years: silent emergency or unique opportunity?<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Investing in young children through ECD programs is one of the smartest investments a country can make to address inequality, break the cycle of poverty, and improve outcomes later in life&#8221; (World Bank Group, 2016, para. 1). The Early Years Study 4 (McCain, 2020) provides compelling data showing the important role early childhood education can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":30,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2427","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2427"}],"version-history":[{"count":86,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16367,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2427\/revisions\/16367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}