
Borowsky, J., J. Brown, E. Davis, C. Gibbs, C. Herbst, A. Sojourner, E. Tekin, & M. Wiswall. An Equilibrium Model of the Impact of Increased Public Investment in Early Childhood Education
Summaries
- Executive summary
- Brookings Brown Center Chalkboard: Fixing Child Care: What Expanded Public Subsidies Could Mean for Children, Families, and Teachers
- White House: State Breakdown: The Biden-Harris Administration's Funding Request Would Help Prevent Families Across the Country from Losing Child Care
- Economic Report of the President (2023) President's Council of Economic Advisers: p. 147 & 150
- OECD Economic Surveys: United States 2022 (2022) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development: p. 94
- USA Today (video): How affordable is child care near me?
- Early Learning Nation: Economists Find Investing in Child Care Will Dramatically Reduce Costs, Increase Mother's Employment, and Increase Quality Care
- Axios: Child care subsidies would send 1.2 million women into the workforce, new paper finds
- Bloomberg: Biden's US Child-Care Aide Would Super-Charge Mom's Employment, Study Says
- Huffington Post: The Child Care Crisis Needs a Lot More Attention Than It's Getting
- New York Times: Jobs Aplenty, but a Shortage of Care Keeps Many Women from Benefiting
- Washington Post: How to fix the U.S. labor shortage? Provide decent child care
- NBER Reporter: Children and Families Program Report 2024
Casey Family Programs. Are there parallels between hiring and child protection processes that can help reduce bias and narrow child welfare’s front door?. Aug. 19, 2020.
Chair, Employment and Work Arrangements Content Panel advising the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 2026, Report (with S. Houseman, C. Muller, L. Cameron, M. Handel, E. Kelly, J. Kemp, K. Kosanovich, D. Kreisman, A. Mas, A. Mueller, D. Pedulla, C. Robertson, W. Rodgers, D. Schneider, J. Smith)
Duncan G. & A. Sojourner. (2013) Can Intensive Early Childhood Intervention Programs Eliminate Income-based Cognitive and Achievement Gaps? Journal of Human Resources. 48(4): 945-968.
Working Papers
Duncan G. & A. Sojourner. (2013) Can Intensive Early Childhood Intervention Programs Eliminate Income-based Cognitive and Achievement Gaps? Journal of Human Resources. 48(4): 945-968.
Press Mentions- U.S. Treasury Department: The Economics of Child Care Supply in the United States
- Minnpost: New study: High-quality preschool for poor kids under 3 would eliminate achievement gap
-
- Educators for Excellence Minnesota blog post.
- 2016 Economic Report of the U.S. President Chapter 4: Inequality in Early Childhood and Effective Public Policy Interventions
- KAZM (Sedona, Ariz): One solution to many problems 2/22/14
- Carlson School Magazine: Closing the Achievement Gap with Early Childhood Education
- Cincinnatians for the American Dream: An Economist's Take on Pre-K
- Minnesota Daily: Cradle to K Cabinet plan advances
- Southwest Journal: Cradle to K report due in December
- Star-Tribune: Minneapolis Mayor Hodges Forms Crade-to-K Cabinet 5/23/1
- Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges & MPR's Kerri Miller on the Daily Circuit [8:00 - 9:30 minute mark].
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: Sustaining early childhood education gains
- Minnpost: "Rock-star researchers on early ed to talk at U of M event"
- Video: Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute panel on early learning
- The Atlantic Citylab: How the Twin Cities Hope to Get Ahead of Demographic Change
- Southwest Journal: Health Kids, Healthy City
- Go Local Providence (R.I.): It's All About Education: Can Universal Preschool Close the Achievement Gap?
- Mention at end of Minnpost article on Education Writers' Association meeting
- Investing in Kids blog by Tim Bartik (Upjohn Institute) gives extensive comment on paper
- Discussed on KTNF 950AM Daily Report [12:05 - 17:00 minute mark]
- Way to Grow: U Economist Publishes Study on Early Ed
- Huffington Post: This is what could close the achievement gap among young kids 1/7/14
- Think Progress article 1/3/14
- Brookings Brown Center Chalkboard: Does Pre-K Work? by Russ Whitehurst 2/26/14
- Tim Bartik response to Whitehurst on his Investing in Kids blog
CLASP & NWLC: Child Care is Key to Our Economic Recovery
Summaries
- Brief and Technical Appendix
- U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee: We need to save child care before it's too late
- Washington Post editorial board: The child care industry is on the brink of collapse. Congress must rescue it.
- Non-Profit Quarterly: Collision Course on Childcare: Will Congress Take the Wheel?
- CNBC: Republicans relief plan includes $15 billion bailout of the child-care industry -- but it falls short of what's needed, advocates say
- Bloomberg: Punching In: Jobless-Aid Fix Heading to the Negotiating Table
- Fatherly: The Child Care Industry Needs More Funding. Why Hasn't It Gotten Any?
- CNN Politics: 4 things Congress can do right now to help working parents get through the pandemic
- CNBC: Elizabeth Warren urges the SBA and Treasury to help keep child-care providers afloat
- Letter from 85 U.S. House representatives
- U.S. House Education & Labor Committee: DeLauro, Scott, Murray, Members introduce $50 billion child care stabilization fund legislation
- Newsweek Opinion: Governors Can Reopen All They Like. Without Child Care, Parents Can't Work
- CNBC: Democrats earmark $7 billion for child care in newest relief package but it won't be enough to stabilize the system for long
- Huffpost: Democrats Push for $50 Billion Child Care Bailout in Next Stimulus
- CBS Minnesota: U.S. Senators Smith and Warren Press to Include $50 Billion Child Care Bailout in Next Relief Package
- Ms Magazine: Fear and Hoarding in the Time of Coronavirus: Invest in Child Care, not Private Jets
- The Nation: The Heartbreaking Choices Faced by Child Care Providers on the Front Lines
Nonprofit Quarterly, Designing Workforce Programs with Worker Power in Mind (with S. Kahn & S. Naidu)
Chaparro, J., A. Sojourner & N. Huey (2019) Differential effects from access to high-quality early care. In Sustaining Early Childhood Learning Gains. Editors: A. Reynolds & J. Temple. Cambridge Univ Press: Cambridge, U.K.
Working Papers Press Mentions
- U.S. Treasury Department: The Economics of Child Care Supply in the United States
- Testimony to Minnesota House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division: Investments in early childhood could prevent, close skill gaps, division hears
- IZA Newsroom (Germany): Subsidized high-quality early care improves child development especially among children in low-income families
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: Sustaining early childhood education gains
Chaparro, J., A. Sojourner, & M. Wiswall, Early Childhood Care and Cognitive Development
Working Papers Press Mentions
- Poverty Research and Policy podcast: The Value of Investments in Quality Child Care
Lee, W. F., A. Sojourner, E. Davis, & J. Borowsky (2025) Effects of Child Care Vouchers on Price, Quantity, and Provider Turnover in Private Care Markets. Journal of Human Capital. 19(1)
Working Papers Summaries
Press Mentions
Golberstein, E., I. Zainullina, A. Sojourner & M. Sanders (2024) Effects of School-Based Mental Health Services on Youth Outcomes. Journal of Human Resources, 59(S), S256-S281
Summaries
- Upjohn-UMinnesota Policy Brief: School-Based Mental Health Services Can Increase Access to Care and Decrease Suicide Attempts
- Upjohn Employment Research Newsletter: School-Based Mental Health Services Can Increase Access to Care and Decrease Suicide Attempts
- Sahan Journal & Minnesota Public Radio: All Minnesota public school students can access free mental health care
- MinnPost: Researchers measure fewer suicide attempts after school-based mental health implemented in Hennepin County
- MedicalXPress: School-based mental health services can improve the well-being of children and adolescents
Roosevelt Institute, Employer Power and Employee Skills: Understanding Workforce Training Programs in the Context of Labor Market Power (with Suresh Naidu)
Summaries
- Roosevelt Institute & Workrise webinar
- Summary site at Roosevelt Institute
- Nonprofit Quarterly op-ed: Designing workforce programs with worker power in mind
- Roosevelt Institute: Banning Noncompetes: A Groundbreaking Step for Worker Power, and What Must Come Next
Roosevelt Institute, Employer Power and Employee Skills: Recommendations for Workforce Training Practitioners and Funders (with Suzanne Kahn)
Gulamhussein, Q. U. A., Susman-Stillman, A., Zhou, X., Addo, A., Ahmed, F., Flynn, P. M., Gunnar, M. R., Okoro, O., Olson D., Osman, M., Riggs, S. M., Sojourner, A., Walker, S. K., & Lee, R. M. (2024). Feasibility Study of a Mobile Health Parenting Intervention Among Somali/Somali Americans From Refugee Families in the United States. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion. Special Issue: Racial Health Inequities in BIPOC Communities, 1-30
Simon, D., A. Sojourner, J. Pedersen & H. Ombisa-Skallet. Financial Incentives for Adoption and Kin Guardianship Improve Achievement for Foster Children. Other distributions: NBER, IZA.
Summaries
- Minn-LInK Research Brief: Adoption, Financial Incentives, and Child Achievement
- Minn-LInK Discussion Guide: Adoption, Financial Incentives, and Child Achievement
- NBER Digest: Financial Incentives Can Increase Permanence for Foster Children
- Public News Service: Researchers link better outcomes to MN adoption reforms
- MinnPost: A look at Minnesota's adoption policy change. Is it working?
Milken Review, A Promise Not Kept: Early Childhood Education and Development
Borowsky, J., J. Brown, E. Davis, C. Gibbs, C. Herbst, A. Sojourner, E. Tekin, & M. Wiswall. An Equilibrium Model of the Impact of Increased Public Investment in Early Childhood Education
Summaries
- Executive summary
- Brookings Brown Center Chalkboard: Fixing Child Care: What Expanded Public Subsidies Could Mean for Children, Families, and Teachers
- White House: State Breakdown: The Biden-Harris Administration's Funding Request Would Help Prevent Families Across the Country from Losing Child Care
- Economic Report of the President (2023) President's Council of Economic Advisers: p. 147 & 150
- OECD Economic Surveys: United States 2022 (2022) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development: p. 94
- USA Today (video): How affordable is child care near me?
- Early Learning Nation: Economists Find Investing in Child Care Will Dramatically Reduce Costs, Increase Mother's Employment, and Increase Quality Care
- Axios: Child care subsidies would send 1.2 million women into the workforce, new paper finds
- Bloomberg: Biden's US Child-Care Aide Would Super-Charge Mom's Employment, Study Says
- Huffington Post: The Child Care Crisis Needs a Lot More Attention Than It's Getting
- New York Times: Jobs Aplenty, but a Shortage of Care Keeps Many Women from Benefiting
- Washington Post: How to fix the U.S. labor shortage? Provide decent child care
- NBER Reporter: Children and Families Program Report 2024
Casey Family Programs. Are there parallels between hiring and child protection processes that can help reduce bias and narrow child welfare’s front door?. Aug. 19, 2020.
Chair, Employment and Work Arrangements Content Panel advising the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 2026, Report (with S. Houseman, C. Muller, L. Cameron, M. Handel, E. Kelly, J. Kemp, K. Kosanovich, D. Kreisman, A. Mas, A. Mueller, D. Pedulla, C. Robertson, W. Rodgers, D. Schneider, J. Smith)
Duncan G. & A. Sojourner. (2013) Can Intensive Early Childhood Intervention Programs Eliminate Income-based Cognitive and Achievement Gaps? Journal of Human Resources. 48(4): 945-968.
Working Papers
Duncan G. & A. Sojourner. (2013) Can Intensive Early Childhood Intervention Programs Eliminate Income-based Cognitive and Achievement Gaps? Journal of Human Resources. 48(4): 945-968.
Press Mentions- U.S. Treasury Department: The Economics of Child Care Supply in the United States
- Minnpost: New study: High-quality preschool for poor kids under 3 would eliminate achievement gap
-
- Educators for Excellence Minnesota blog post.
- 2016 Economic Report of the U.S. President Chapter 4: Inequality in Early Childhood and Effective Public Policy Interventions
- KAZM (Sedona, Ariz): One solution to many problems 2/22/14
- Carlson School Magazine: Closing the Achievement Gap with Early Childhood Education
- Cincinnatians for the American Dream: An Economist's Take on Pre-K
- Minnesota Daily: Cradle to K Cabinet plan advances
- Southwest Journal: Cradle to K report due in December
- Star-Tribune: Minneapolis Mayor Hodges Forms Crade-to-K Cabinet 5/23/1
- Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges & MPR's Kerri Miller on the Daily Circuit [8:00 - 9:30 minute mark].
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: Sustaining early childhood education gains
- Minnpost: "Rock-star researchers on early ed to talk at U of M event"
- Video: Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute panel on early learning
- The Atlantic Citylab: How the Twin Cities Hope to Get Ahead of Demographic Change
- Southwest Journal: Health Kids, Healthy City
- Go Local Providence (R.I.): It's All About Education: Can Universal Preschool Close the Achievement Gap?
- Mention at end of Minnpost article on Education Writers' Association meeting
- Investing in Kids blog by Tim Bartik (Upjohn Institute) gives extensive comment on paper
- Discussed on KTNF 950AM Daily Report [12:05 - 17:00 minute mark]
- Way to Grow: U Economist Publishes Study on Early Ed
- Huffington Post: This is what could close the achievement gap among young kids 1/7/14
- Think Progress article 1/3/14
- Brookings Brown Center Chalkboard: Does Pre-K Work? by Russ Whitehurst 2/26/14
- Tim Bartik response to Whitehurst on his Investing in Kids blog
CLASP & NWLC: Child Care is Key to Our Economic Recovery
Summaries
- Brief and Technical Appendix
- U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee: We need to save child care before it's too late
- Washington Post editorial board: The child care industry is on the brink of collapse. Congress must rescue it.
- Non-Profit Quarterly: Collision Course on Childcare: Will Congress Take the Wheel?
- CNBC: Republicans relief plan includes $15 billion bailout of the child-care industry -- but it falls short of what's needed, advocates say
- Bloomberg: Punching In: Jobless-Aid Fix Heading to the Negotiating Table
- Fatherly: The Child Care Industry Needs More Funding. Why Hasn't It Gotten Any?
- CNN Politics: 4 things Congress can do right now to help working parents get through the pandemic
- CNBC: Elizabeth Warren urges the SBA and Treasury to help keep child-care providers afloat
- Letter from 85 U.S. House representatives
- U.S. House Education & Labor Committee: DeLauro, Scott, Murray, Members introduce $50 billion child care stabilization fund legislation
- Newsweek Opinion: Governors Can Reopen All They Like. Without Child Care, Parents Can't Work
- CNBC: Democrats earmark $7 billion for child care in newest relief package but it won't be enough to stabilize the system for long
- Huffpost: Democrats Push for $50 Billion Child Care Bailout in Next Stimulus
- CBS Minnesota: U.S. Senators Smith and Warren Press to Include $50 Billion Child Care Bailout in Next Relief Package
- Ms Magazine: Fear and Hoarding in the Time of Coronavirus: Invest in Child Care, not Private Jets
- The Nation: The Heartbreaking Choices Faced by Child Care Providers on the Front Lines
Nonprofit Quarterly, Designing Workforce Programs with Worker Power in Mind (with S. Kahn & S. Naidu)
Chaparro, J., A. Sojourner & N. Huey (2019) Differential effects from access to high-quality early care. In Sustaining Early Childhood Learning Gains. Editors: A. Reynolds & J. Temple. Cambridge Univ Press: Cambridge, U.K.
Working Papers Press Mentions
- U.S. Treasury Department: The Economics of Child Care Supply in the United States
- Testimony to Minnesota House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division: Investments in early childhood could prevent, close skill gaps, division hears
- IZA Newsroom (Germany): Subsidized high-quality early care improves child development especially among children in low-income families
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: Sustaining early childhood education gains
Chaparro, J., A. Sojourner, & M. Wiswall, Early Childhood Care and Cognitive Development
Working Papers Press Mentions
- Poverty Research and Policy podcast: The Value of Investments in Quality Child Care
Lee, W. F., A. Sojourner, E. Davis, & J. Borowsky (2025) Effects of Child Care Vouchers on Price, Quantity, and Provider Turnover in Private Care Markets. Journal of Human Capital. 19(1)
Working Papers Summaries
Press Mentions
Golberstein, E., I. Zainullina, A. Sojourner & M. Sanders (2024) Effects of School-Based Mental Health Services on Youth Outcomes. Journal of Human Resources, 59(S), S256-S281
Summaries
- Upjohn-UMinnesota Policy Brief: School-Based Mental Health Services Can Increase Access to Care and Decrease Suicide Attempts
- Upjohn Employment Research Newsletter: School-Based Mental Health Services Can Increase Access to Care and Decrease Suicide Attempts
- Sahan Journal & Minnesota Public Radio: All Minnesota public school students can access free mental health care
- MinnPost: Researchers measure fewer suicide attempts after school-based mental health implemented in Hennepin County
- MedicalXPress: School-based mental health services can improve the well-being of children and adolescents
Roosevelt Institute, Employer Power and Employee Skills: Understanding Workforce Training Programs in the Context of Labor Market Power (with Suresh Naidu)
Summaries
- Roosevelt Institute & Workrise webinar
- Summary site at Roosevelt Institute
- Nonprofit Quarterly op-ed: Designing workforce programs with worker power in mind
- Roosevelt Institute: Banning Noncompetes: A Groundbreaking Step for Worker Power, and What Must Come Next
Roosevelt Institute, Employer Power and Employee Skills: Recommendations for Workforce Training Practitioners and Funders (with Suzanne Kahn)
Gulamhussein, Q. U. A., Susman-Stillman, A., Zhou, X., Addo, A., Ahmed, F., Flynn, P. M., Gunnar, M. R., Okoro, O., Olson D., Osman, M., Riggs, S. M., Sojourner, A., Walker, S. K., & Lee, R. M. (2024). Feasibility Study of a Mobile Health Parenting Intervention Among Somali/Somali Americans From Refugee Families in the United States. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion. Special Issue: Racial Health Inequities in BIPOC Communities, 1-30
Simon, D., A. Sojourner, J. Pedersen & H. Ombisa-Skallet. Financial Incentives for Adoption and Kin Guardianship Improve Achievement for Foster Children. Other distributions: NBER, IZA.
Summaries
- Minn-LInK Research Brief: Adoption, Financial Incentives, and Child Achievement
- Minn-LInK Discussion Guide: Adoption, Financial Incentives, and Child Achievement
- NBER Digest: Financial Incentives Can Increase Permanence for Foster Children
- Public News Service: Researchers link better outcomes to MN adoption reforms
- MinnPost: A look at Minnesota's adoption policy change. Is it working?

Aaron Sojourner
Senior Researcher
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
269-385-0438
sojourner@upjohn.org
Senior Researcher
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
269-385-0438
sojourner@upjohn.org