Writing for the early childhood and economic development policy and research communities, Bartik, an economist at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, contends that local economic development strategies in the US should include both investments in high-quality early childhood programs and reforms in business tax incentives, concluding that economic development benefits can be better achieved this way, as both of these programs provide business and economic benefits and boost earnings. He considers the effects of these programs, such as creation of local jobs and improved job skills and attitudes when children become adults; identifies estimates for increases in earnings; discusses program design, cost-effectiveness, and how they can be made relevant to policy makers; describes effects on families at different income levels, ethical issues, and differences across local economies and among national, state, and local perspectives; and details how his approach can be used to estimate the benefits of other human capital improvements. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Read Less