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.

Early childhood programs have effects on skills that go beyond educational attainment

Posted on April 4, 2011 by timbartik

In a recent post on community colleges, I made the off-hand remark that “early childhood programs also affect adult earnings by increasing employment rates and wage rates even for individuals at the same level of educational attainment”. What is the … Continue reading →

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Community colleges and local economic development

Posted on April 1, 2011 by timbartik

In chapter 12 of Investing in Kids, I consider how more community college graduates affect a state’s economic development. The skills from more graduates of community colleges will spur a state’s economic growth by increasing the skill level of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Business incentives, Early childhood programs, Economic development, Incentive design issues | 1 Comment

Increasing bachelor degree attainment as an economic development strategy

Posted on March 31, 2011 by timbartik

In chapter 12 of Investing in Kids, I also provide estimates for how an increase in the attainment of bachelor degrees will affect a state’s economic development. Although some bachelor degree holders will leave their home state, others will remain. … Continue reading →

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Reducing high school dropouts as an economic development strategy

Posted on March 30, 2011 by timbartik

In chapter 12 of Investing in Kids, I also consider how reducing the high school dropout rate benefits a state economy. As with early childhood programs and other educational investments, reducing high school dropouts affects economic development by affecting labor … Continue reading →

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How to make the economic case for early childhood programs to the business community and policymakers

Posted on March 29, 2011 by timbartik

One question I have sometimes been asked is how to most effectively make the economic case for early childhood programs to the business community and to policymakers. I certainly have no magic answers. But here are a few suggestions, based … Continue reading →

Posted in Early childhood programs, Economic development | Comments Off on How to make the economic case for early childhood programs to the business community and policymakers

Aggressive online pricing by Amazon

Posted on March 28, 2011 by timbartik

As of right now, March 28 at a little after 1 p.m.,  Amazon is aggressively pricing my book, Investing in Kids. The paperback price is $12.12 (regular price is $20.00), and the hardback is priced at $20 (regular price is … Continue reading →

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Increasing secondary school test scores also provides economic development benefits, but probably with a lower benefit-cost ratio than elementary improvements

Posted on March 28, 2011 by timbartik

In chapter 12 of Investing in Kids, I also consider the economic development benefits of improvements in test scores in secondary school. These economic development benefits are the increase in a state’s per capita earnings. These increases in per capita … Continue reading →

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Jean Jennings Bartik, 1924-2011

Posted on March 25, 2011 by timbartik

Jean Jennings Bartik, my mother, died on March 23, 2011. She was 86. My mom lived a life full of determination, integrity, a sense of humor, and a positive philosophy. Those of us who knew her and loved her, and … Continue reading →

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Improving elementary school test scores also yields state economic development benefits

Posted on March 24, 2011 by timbartik

Early childhood education is obviously not the only way to improve local labor force quality, and thereby improve local per capita earnings. Other policies can also improve local labor force quality. Many such policies can do so in a cost-effective … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic development | 1 Comment

Why Head Start should be improved, not defunded

Posted on March 23, 2011 by timbartik

Head Start is currently threatened with a significant funding cut. As part of the political fight over budget deficits, the House of Representatives has  proposed significant funding cuts to Head Start for fiscal year 2011 (the current fiscal year) of … Continue reading →

Posted in Early childhood program design issues, Early childhood programs | 6 Comments