Category Archives: Economic development

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

Podcast at Early Ed Watch

Posted on March 22, 2011 by timbartik

A podcast interview with me is now up at the blog Early Ed Watch. I was interviewed by Lisa Guernsey, who directs the New America Foundation’s Early Education Initiative, and edits the blog Early Ed Watch. Early Ed Watch is … Continue reading →

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Early childhood programs as one component of the solution for long-run, broad-based economic prosperity

Posted on March 17, 2011 by timbartik

At a recent presentation I made on early childhood programs, one person asked the following question: “How do we restore the American middle class?” Although some might perceive this question as “off-topic”, I do not. We need to be thinking … Continue reading →

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Early childhood programs and state budget cuts: now is a good time to invest

Posted on February 18, 2011 by timbartik

As detailed in a previous post, states are facing significant additional budget problems this year. These budget problems may lead to pressure to cut early childhood programs. I don’t think there’s any need for states to cut high-quality early childhood … Continue reading →

Posted in Early childhood programs, Economic development | 1 Comment

Ed Glaeser’s Triumph of the City book

Posted on February 16, 2011 by timbartik

I have been reading Ed Glaeser’s new book, Triumph of the City, and enjoying it tremendously. Ed Glaeser is a Harvard professor, and is arguably the leading American urban economist. One issue on which most urban economists agree is the … Continue reading →

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The State of the Union and the States

Posted on January 26, 2011 by timbartik

President Obama’s State of the Union address focused on “winning the future”. This strategy included winning the future through public investments, including educational investments. For advocates of early childhood programs, it is noteworthy that the educational investments that were mentioned … Continue reading →

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Preschool and state economic development: employers speak out

Posted on January 25, 2011 by timbartik

One of my Google News alerts came across this interesting story from Iowa.  Iowa is currently debating the future of its “Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program”, which currently enrolls over half of all Iowa four-year olds. The program is designed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Early childhood programs, Economic development, Timing of benefits | 1 Comment

Another blog on human capital and local economic development

Posted on January 5, 2011 by timbartik

My colleague at the Upjohn Institute, Michelle Miller-Adams, runs a blog on the Kalamazoo Promise. The Kalamazoo Promise, announced in November 2005, guarantees every graduate of Kalamazoo Public Schools up to four years of tuition at any public university or … Continue reading →

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Investing in Kids now ready for shipping!

Posted on January 4, 2011 by timbartik

The Upjohn Institute Press now has both hardback and paperback copies of my book investing in Kids available. You can order online at the Institute’s website.  The paperback goes for $20. A great value for a book of 415 pages! … Continue reading →

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Film incentives: why are they particularly problematic as economic development incentives?

Posted on December 28, 2010 by timbartik

In a recent blog post, Matt Yglesias casts a skeptical eye on incentives for film production in a particular state or local economy.  Many states offer huge incentives for films to be made in the state, on the grounds that … Continue reading →

Posted in Business incentives, Economic development, Incentive design issues, National vs. state vs. local | 1 Comment