America's Child Care Problem: The Way Out [Paperback]

Barbara R. Bergmann (Author), Suzanne Wiggans Helburn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2003 | ISBN-10: 1403962111 | ISBN-13: 978-1403962119

The revolution in women’s lives has created an unprecedented demand for non-parental child care, and sparked a growing child care industry run by both public and private providers. In this book, two esteemed economists examine the causes and potential cures of the child care problems that face this country today. Writing for policymakers, parents, and providers alike, Suzanne W. Helburn and Barbara R. Bergmann provide the first in-depth look at the child care industry, identifying crucial problems such as quality of care and the high cost of even mediocre care. Moreover, the authors identify sources for change–including stronger regulatory procedures on providers and suppliers of care–and more government subsidies. America’s Child Care Problem examines the views of key players in all facets of the child care industry: CEOs, politicians, policy advocates, foundation directors, child care providers, and parents; and offers specific advice and guidelines for parents to use when selecting care. The book helps parents understand the hidden costs of child care; the pros and cons of child care centers versus care by nannies, relatives, and family-run centers; and danger signals that indicate a low quality of child care.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It's time to shine an intense spotlight on child care. The question of who provides it and how it’s valued remains an unresolved political conflict. The national conversation is, in fact, stuck--and in need of “the way out” promised by Bergmann and Helburn’s book. What they’ve given us is a rational, well-defined, and workable approach that should inspire a new and better public debate and provide hope for millions of American families." —Faith A. Wohl, president, Child Care Action Campaign

"No problem ripples through American society more than our lack of safe child care. Government policies have fallen flat, leaving fathers and mothers feeling torn between their roles as members of the work force and protectors of the future generation. Bergmann and Helburn show us that solutions exist, in this guide to sound family values, in the truest sense." —Ambassador Swanee Hunt, director, Women and Public Policy Program, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

"...an engaging work accessible to generalist readers but also of value to readers interested in policy analysis..." -Choice

About the Author

Barbara R. Bergmann has published several books on welfare, child care, and social policy, including Is Social Security Broke?: A Cartoon Guide to the Issues, and In Defense of Affirmative Action. She is Professor Emerita of Economics at American University and the University of Maryland.

Suzanne W. Helburn is Professor of Economics Emerita at the University of Colorado at Denver. She has published widely on the cost and quality of child care.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (May 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403962111
• ISBN-13: 978-1403962119
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,824,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Landmark work -- highly readable, March 16, 2002

By 

Martha E. Gimenez (Boulder, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: America's Child Care Problem: The Way Out (Hardcover)

This book gives a complete summary of the major problems with child care in the United States related to the high cost to parents, the mediocre quality of most care, and the difficulty parents have finding it. The authors argue that the affordability problem can only be solved through large increases in financial aid and that the federal government is the only practical source given the magnitudes involved. They also make recommendations for more public spending to create incentives for parents to demand good quality services and for providers to give it. I found the book extremely informative, authoritative, and easy to read.

5.0 out of 5 stars I thought this book was written in 2007-2008, not 2001. It's current, relevant, and enlightening. A must read!, February 17, 2011

By 

Bridgette H. "bridgetokindergarten" (Alabama) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: America's Child Care Problem: The Way Out (Hardcover)

This books was written in 2001, but it's very relevant even now ten years later. It's much easier to read than all the edited, biased, "advertising contaminated" information that is available on the internet these days. We know that there's a crisis in the child care industry, but alot of people do not know just how serious the problems are. Children under the age of three who are being warehoused in poor quality child care centers are being damaged psychologically from the poor care. Their brain functions are being stunted and important developmental milestones are being missed. These kids are being changed for life by long days spent in the care of poorly trained and disattached caregivers. The child care crisis is huge and the authors havfe done a fantastic job covering the details. There are solutions and I'm so glad that the authors addressed these in their book.