A growing body of evidence shows that investments in high-quality, affordable, and accessible childcare and learning are a key element of a healthy, growing U.S. economy. Research tells us that the ages zero to three are a critically important time for developing the wide range of skills necessary for future success. Equitable Growth is growing the evidence base for the demand side of the early education equation—what do families need and want for their children and themselves and what are the obstacles to access across the economic distribution—and the supply side of the equation—what does quality childcare look like, and how do we expand access to quality early care and learning jobs in a way that creates meaningful economic security for care workers?
Featured work
Can remote work attenuate mothers’ mobility constraints in the U.S. labor force?
February 12, 2026
February 12, 2026
Factsheet: What we know about the federal employer-provided child care credit and how can it be better used by businesses
April 22, 2025
April 22, 2025
What is social infrastructure, and how does it support economic growth in the United States?
January 26, 2023
January 26, 2023
Factsheet: What the research says about the economics of early care and education
September 15, 2021
September 15, 2021
Explore Content in Childcare & Early Education219
Food assistance can disrupt intergenerational poverty in the United States, promoting racial economic equity
May 30, 2023
May 30, 2023
The Effectiveness of the Food Stamp Program at Reducing Differences in the Intergenerational Persistence of Poverty
May 30, 2023
May 30, 2023
Child care prices, inflation, and the end of federal pandemic-era aid in five charts
May 8, 2023
May 8, 2023
Police in public schools harm students, leading to far-reaching socioeconomic inequalities alongside less safe schools
April 19, 2023
April 19, 2023
Employers can alleviate the U.S. child care crisis, but they cannot be the primary solution
April 13, 2023
April 13, 2023
Executive actions to leverage federal agencies to improve child care in the United States
February 8, 2023
February 8, 2023
What is social infrastructure, and how does it support economic growth in the United States?
January 26, 2023
January 26, 2023
Advancing research and evidence on child care and U.S. economic growth
November 10, 2022
November 10, 2022
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Effect on Paid Leave Taking During the Early Pandemic
November 3, 2022
November 3, 2022
Expert Focus: Researchers advancing our understanding of U.S. child care policy and how to improve the early care and education system
October 27, 2022
October 27, 2022
Budget analyses of U.S. income support programs must incorporate long-term benefits for children
September 22, 2022
September 22, 2022
Policymakers can still use American Rescue Plan funds to bolster the U.S. child care system and ensure it has a strong future
September 20, 2022
September 20, 2022
Explore the Equitable Growth network of experts around the country and get answers to today's most pressing questions!