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Title: Rapid Review of Evidence on the Impact of Childcare on Parental Poverty, Employment and Household Costs in Low-income Families December 2022
Citation Type: Miscellaneous
Publication Year: 2022
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Abstract: The aim of this review is to appraise evidence from previous research, conducted in Scotland and beyond, which provides insight into the extent to which planned Scottish Government investment in childcare could impact on parental poverty, parental employment and reducing household costs. The literature review included studies from Scotland (of which there are a limited number) and those from geographic areas in which findings were deemed to be relevant to contemporary Scotland, e.g., other OECD countries. The evidence based comprised fifty-one academic papers and formal research reports. While it was not an explicit aim of the review, to contextualise the research, the review also considered papers which examined the wider benefits of childcare to society. Evidence of the immediate impact of childcare investment on poverty, employment and reducing household costs is not definitive nor compelling. Across the small number of studies that examined evidence of the impact of childcare provision on poverty, the key conclusion is that the impact is slight, but positive. Empirical evidence suggests that investment in childcare can result in modest reductions in child poverty and cost savings, and modest increases in maternal employment (which, in turn, also can lead to reductions in child poverty). However, these investments do not – alone – transform household income or employment outcomes of the target groups. Research tends to advise that most of the target group endure low income and remain outside the labour market after the introduction of a childcare intervention. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that there are many qualitative and longer-term benefits of childcare investment, particularly for the most disadvantaged children, and that while childcare alone cannot tackle poverty, formal childcare is often considered to be an indispensable part of a policy toolkit to tackle these problems. Where costs are not covered in the short-term, it is often anticipated that the longer-term outcomes of childcare investment will justify the investment. There is an inadequate Scottish evidence base. Further research is required to strengthen the evidence base to understand the totality of the impact of childcare investment in Scotland. Moreover, it would be prudent to clarify expectations pertaining to the contribution of childcare in tackling poverty, and to understand the co-dependencies of childcare on other aspects of an anti-poverty strategy (such as decent wages, flexibility in employment and a facilitating public transport system).
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Authors: Mckendrick, John H; Hakeem, Naveed; Reid, Lisamarie; Ritchie, Michelle; Sadovska, Justyna
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Data Collections: IPUMS CPS
Topics: Poverty and Welfare, Work, Family, and Time
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