Giving parents money doesn’t solve child care problems

Summary

A research report published by The Prosperity Project asks, and answers, a fundamental, researchable question central to early learning and child care policy: should we make affordable child care services available to all families who want to use them? Or should we give families money instead and let them find whatever child care arrangements they can?

The evidence seems clear. Parents and children want and need child care services. As a substitute, money is a poor second-best. The analysis presented in this report by economist Gordon Cleveland strongly supports the prioritization of affordable child care services, rather than the family allowance model.