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Unemployment rates are stagnating around 9.5 percent nationally, and debates rage in states and localities over how to create more jobs for local workers. Early childhood advocates may not see themselves as players in these discussions, but Timothy Bartik would argue otherwise. He’s the author of a new book, , that argues comprehensively and persuasively for why high-quality early childhood programs should be part of the economic development plans of states and cities around the country.

As senior economist at the , Bartik uses analyses of local economic development data — such as the earnings and job growth that can come from well-educated young people — to advocate for a “balanced economic development strategy” that includes both early childhood investments and reformed business incentives. “At some point you’ve got to invest in your future or your future won’t look very bright,” he says. In addition, “these programs have some short-term payoffs too,” including how property values are affected by children’s outcomes in elementary schools.

For this podcast, we talk with Bartik about his arguments and the three early childhood programs he analyzes in his book.

Early Ed Watch podcast – March 22, 2011

Podcast: Job Growth Via Early Childhood Investments

With our guest Timothy Bartik, economist and author of

P.S. Don’t miss Bartik’s blog at where he recently conducted a quick analysis of the return-on-investment that could come with better teacher preparation, the subject of our here at the Early Education Initiative. His conclusion: The is “enormous,” with children who are taught by effective teachers (and therefore achieving success in school) eventually earning far more than they would have otherwise.