Strengthening the economy, raising earnings, reducing crime and balancing budgets are all within reach of policymakers if they would tap a little-used resource: the nation's 3- and 4-year-olds. A groundbreaking study released today shows that providing high-quality pre-kindergarten education would yield benefits for kids, families, communities and the nation as a whole so significant that the costs would be a highly prudent investment.

Enriching Children, Enriching the Nation was written by economist Robert G. Lynch and released by the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, DC. New Jersey Policy Perspective is a member of EPI's Economic Analysis Research Network.

Lynch's research shows, state-by-state and nationally, the gains that would come from either targeted pre-K education for 3- and 4-year-olds in the lowest income group (similar to what is required for the Abbott school districts in New Jersey) or a universal program that would be open to any children in that age group.

He measures governmental costs and benefits as year-to-year spending, budget savings and revenue impacts projected to 2050. Implications with regard to increased earnings and reduced crime are calculated for individuals and society.

Pre-K education is "an effective public policy strategy for generating wealth and achieving a multitude of social and economic development objectives," Lynch writes.

NJPP President Jon Shure said, "This is the sort of big idea that can move an entire nation forward. The upfront costs are a much-needed investment in people and the economy. And they pay for themselves."

Lynch's work adds a crucial new dimension to build on previous research that had already solidly documented the positive effects of high-quality pre-K education.

He shows that the pre-K investment that pays off so dramatically for children does the same for society and for government budgets. He notes that pre-K has the potential to lower government costs in a range of areas, from remedial education to law enforcement to child welfare.

A universal pre-K program in New Jersey would, in 2050, provide over $5.3 billion in government savings, $13.6 billion in increased earnings for individuals and about $3.4 billion in savings from lower crime-for a combined benefit of over $22 billion.

Facts and figures in more detail, including state-by-state costs and benefits and the full text of Lynch's study, are at http://www.epi.org/docs/news/lynch/ (user name: release  password: embargo).

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