Analysts: Nurturing care delivers “incredible financial return”

The Nurturing Care Framework has the potential to improve the lives of millions of children worldwide and to boost the global economy by trillions of dollars, say two U.S. analysts, writing for the Seattle Times. Peter Laugharn is President and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and Steve Davis is President and CEO of PATH.

The two express strong joint support for the approach: “These interventions are cost-effective, relatively easy to provide, and can even be added to existing programs. And they deliver an incredible financial return to communities.”

In discussing these claims, the authors cite the work of Nobel laureate economist James Heckman, who has shown that investment in children aged 0-3 produces the highest financial returns (more). Heckman also showed that these returns diminish when governments and nonprofits delay support until children are older.