Author Archives: timbartik

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About timbartik

Tim Bartik is a senior economist at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, a non-profit and non-partisan research organization in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His research specializes in state and local economic development policies and local labor markets.

Boston event

Posted on July 19, 2011 by timbartik

I will be out of town for a few days at two conferences in Boston. This includes the 2011 National Business Summit on Early Childhood Investment, sponsored by the Partnership for America’s Economic Success, at which I will be speaking … Continue reading →

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Early childhood programs and parental responsibility

Posted on July 18, 2011 by timbartik

My local newspaper, the Kalamazoo Gazette, recently had an interesting interview with the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, Jase Bolger. According to reporter Julie Mack, [Speaker Bolger] also expressed reluctance about spending more tax dollars on social programs … Continue reading →

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The potential for pre-K in school turnaround strategies

Posted on July 15, 2011 by timbartik

Recently, Maureen Kelleher’s Education Week blog drew my attention to a report by Pre-K Now on school districts using pre-K to turnaround student achievement.  The report highlights such strategies for school districts in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Missouri, North Carolina, and California. … Continue reading →

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Why we know more about the effectiveness of preschool than the effectiveness of third grade

Posted on July 14, 2011 by timbartik

State legislators sometimes are skeptical about the claims of any program’s advocates. So, when early childhood program advocates claim great results for these programs, state legislators may be resistant. Why should they believe the claims of advocates for early childhood … Continue reading →

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Update

Posted on July 1, 2011 by timbartik

I will be out of town again for a few days. I don’t expect to resume regular daily posting until Wednesday July 13, although I may have a few thoughts to add before then.

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Responding to skeptics of early childhood programs as local economic development

Posted on June 30, 2011 by timbartik

I gave presentations on Tuesday, June 28, 2011,  to business summits sponsored by two of the Great Start Collaboratives in Michigan, in Cass County and Berrien County. I appreciate their interest in my work. My prepared text tried to respond … Continue reading →

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Why early childhood education benefits others in the local economy, not just program participants

Posted on June 29, 2011 by timbartik

Some skeptics about early childhood programs accept that these programs may be effective in increasing the future earnings of participants. But, a skeptic could say, even if former participants stay in the local economy, how does this benefit others in … Continue reading →

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Recent testimony by Art Rolnick

Posted on June 28, 2011 by timbartik

Dr. Art Rolnick, former research director of the Minneapolis Fed, recently testified before the U.S. Congress on early childhood programs as economic development programs.  The hearing and Dr. Rolnick’s testimony was requested by Senator Al Franken, who also questioned Dr. … Continue reading →

Posted in Business incentives, Early childhood programs, Economic development, National vs. state vs. local | Comments Off on Recent testimony by Art Rolnick

Designing better funding for early childhood programs

Posted on June 27, 2011 by timbartik

Steve Barnett and Jason Hustedt have a new issue brief for the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), on financing early learning programs.  This issue brief analyzes many aspects of the financing of early learning programs. But I want … Continue reading →

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Where is business community support for early childhood programs?

Posted on June 24, 2011 by timbartik

Well-known economist Nancy Folbre raised an important issue about the business community and early childhood programs in her recent contribution to the New York Times’ “Economix” blog. The issue is: why isn’t there more active business support for early childhood … Continue reading →

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