EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London
Abstract
There is a substantial literature about cost-benefi t
studies of social welfare interventions. It is widely
assumed, and widely quoted by politicians and
policymakers, that early childhood interventions
in particular are effective and bring returns in the
order of seven dollars saved for every one dollar
spent. These savings do not appear to be apparent
until the children who received the intervention
reach adulthood.
We wished to scrutinise this evidence in detail
