Kathryn Anne Edwards, Columnist

Child Care Has Failed. The Government Can Help.

America’s dysfunctional system illustrates why the market can’t care for kids. Public intervention would benefit families and the whole economy.

April 13, 2023 at 10:00 AM UTC

By Kathryn Anne Edwards

Kathryn Anne Edwards is a labor economist, independent policy consultant and co-host of the Optimist Economy podcast.

Failed market.
Photographer: Simone Lueck/Bloomberg

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America’s childcare market is an abject failure. Even at prohibitively high prices, supply doesn’t meet demand, preventing children, parents and the entire economy from reaching their full potential.

This is a problem that only government intervention can solve.