Eva Lloyd and Helen Penn (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- January 2013
- ISBN:
- 9781847429339
- eISBN:
- 9781447307679
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781847429339.001.0001
- Subject:
- Social Work, Children and Families
The viability, quality and sustainability of publicly supported early childhood education and care services is a lively issue in many countries, especially since the rights of the child imply equal ...
More
The viability, quality and sustainability of publicly supported early childhood education and care services is a lively issue in many countries, especially since the rights of the child imply equal access to provision for all young children. But equitable provision within childcare markets is highly problematic, as parents pay for what they can afford and parental income inequalities persist or widen. This book presents recent, significant research from eight nations where childcare markets are the norm. It also includes research about ‘raw’ and ‘emerging’ childcare markets operating with a minimum of government intervention, mostly in low income countries or post transition economies. Childcare markets compares these childcare marketisation and regulatory processes and the format of any public investment across the political and economic systems in which they are embedded. Contributions from economists, childcare policy specialists and educationalists address the question of what constraints need to be in place if childcare markets are to deliver an equitable service. Evidence is presented that marketisation and privatisation, including corporatisation, risk deepening, consolidating or widening inequalities of access to early childhood education and care provision and driving qualitative differences between types of provider. The book documents the varied economic and policy backdrops of current childcare market systems, examines their consequences for parents, children, providers and the systems themselves, and finally explores alternative approaches.Less
The viability, quality and sustainability of publicly supported early childhood education and care services is a lively issue in many countries, especially since the rights of the child imply equal access to provision for all young children. But equitable provision within childcare markets is highly problematic, as parents pay for what they can afford and parental income inequalities persist or widen. This book presents recent, significant research from eight nations where childcare markets are the norm. It also includes research about ‘raw’ and ‘emerging’ childcare markets operating with a minimum of government intervention, mostly in low income countries or post transition economies. Childcare markets compares these childcare marketisation and regulatory processes and the format of any public investment across the political and economic systems in which they are embedded. Contributions from economists, childcare policy specialists and educationalists address the question of what constraints need to be in place if childcare markets are to deliver an equitable service. Evidence is presented that marketisation and privatisation, including corporatisation, risk deepening, consolidating or widening inequalities of access to early childhood education and care provision and driving qualitative differences between types of provider. The book documents the varied economic and policy backdrops of current childcare market systems, examines their consequences for parents, children, providers and the systems themselves, and finally explores alternative approaches.
Eva Lloyd
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- January 2013
- ISBN:
- 9781847429339
- eISBN:
- 9781447307679
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781847429339.003.0001
- Subject:
- Social Work, Children and Families
The state's role in the provision of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services is of particular interest, since such services are closely linked to other social, educational, demographic and ...
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The state's role in the provision of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services is of particular interest, since such services are closely linked to other social, educational, demographic and economic policy developments. Modern welfare states traditionally have varied in the amount of public support provided for early childhood education and care systems and in their response to economic challenges, such as the transition to post-industrialist economies and the rise of female labour market participation. Robust education systems, labour market policies which acknowledge the key contributions of women, family stability and ideas of inclusive citizenship all to an extent hinge on the provision of comprehensive and high quality early childhood education and care. This role requires states to strike a balance between serving the interests of parents and the wider family, of children and of the state itself. But negotiating the intersections between these policy interests is often conflictual. One particular option for addressing these policy conundrums is the promotion of a market-based approach to the provision of early childhood education and care. This chapter introduces historical and contemporary perspectives on childcare markets and provides an overview of the book's structure and chapter contents.Less
The state's role in the provision of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services is of particular interest, since such services are closely linked to other social, educational, demographic and economic policy developments. Modern welfare states traditionally have varied in the amount of public support provided for early childhood education and care systems and in their response to economic challenges, such as the transition to post-industrialist economies and the rise of female labour market participation. Robust education systems, labour market policies which acknowledge the key contributions of women, family stability and ideas of inclusive citizenship all to an extent hinge on the provision of comprehensive and high quality early childhood education and care. This role requires states to strike a balance between serving the interests of parents and the wider family, of children and of the state itself. But negotiating the intersections between these policy interests is often conflictual. One particular option for addressing these policy conundrums is the promotion of a market-based approach to the provision of early childhood education and care. This chapter introduces historical and contemporary perspectives on childcare markets and provides an overview of the book's structure and chapter contents.
Gillian Paull
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- January 2013
- ISBN:
- 9781847429339
- eISBN:
- 9781447307679
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781847429339.003.0013
- Subject:
- Social Work, Children and Families
At the start of this chapter the author posits that it is simply not feasible to summarise into a single comparative framework the diverse ways in which the unique characteristics of childcare have ...
More
At the start of this chapter the author posits that it is simply not feasible to summarise into a single comparative framework the diverse ways in which the unique characteristics of childcare have been addressed in governmental policies and strategies. Instead, this chapter draws together the economic elements to assess the role of the market in childcare provision and the case for government intervention. After describing the advantages of a private market, it then summarises the evidence presented in Childcare Markets on the problems in the operation of this market, the social objectives that have driven government intervention and the policy solutions that have been used around the world. It concludes that the evidence suggests any policies mitigating market failures and promoting social objectives need to be multidimensional and critically need to command sufficient support from the wider population to pay their cost. The chapter concludes that there is considerable scope for countries to learn from the experiences of others on the best mechanisms for childcare provision. However, given the variation in social objectives for childcare and in cultural conditions, a considerable degree of international diversity in the role of the market and government in childcare provision will likely remain.Less
At the start of this chapter the author posits that it is simply not feasible to summarise into a single comparative framework the diverse ways in which the unique characteristics of childcare have been addressed in governmental policies and strategies. Instead, this chapter draws together the economic elements to assess the role of the market in childcare provision and the case for government intervention. After describing the advantages of a private market, it then summarises the evidence presented in Childcare Markets on the problems in the operation of this market, the social objectives that have driven government intervention and the policy solutions that have been used around the world. It concludes that the evidence suggests any policies mitigating market failures and promoting social objectives need to be multidimensional and critically need to command sufficient support from the wider population to pay their cost. The chapter concludes that there is considerable scope for countries to learn from the experiences of others on the best mechanisms for childcare provision. However, given the variation in social objectives for childcare and in cultural conditions, a considerable degree of international diversity in the role of the market and government in childcare provision will likely remain.
