Putting the child-centred investment strategy to the test: Evidence for the EU27

Wim Van Lancker

No 1301, Working Papers from Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp

Abstract: Under the social investment paradigm, a child-centred investment strategy has been developed. Mainstay of such strategy is the provision of childcare services, which are expected to increase maternal employment rates, further childrenÂ’s human capital and mitigate social inequalities in early life. In this article, I critically assess the child-centred investment strategy and explore whether childcare services in European countries in their current state of affairs are up to the task of producing the anticipated benefits. The argument I develop is fairly simple: in order to be effective, childcare services should cover all social groups, in particular children from a disadvantaged background. Drawing on recent EU-SILC data I show that in all but one country this condition is not met: childcare is often used at low or moderate levels, and children from low-income families participate to a much lesser extent than children from high-income families. In order to overcome these childcare deficits, countries should pursue a consistent investment strategy which entails increasing childcare supply and increasing employment opportunities for all social groups. This will require huge budgetary efforts for most member states.

Keywords: child-centred investment strategy; childcare; ECEC; European Union; inequality; social investment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I24 I3 J13 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem and nep-eur
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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