In mid-October we invited ExchangeEveryDay readers to tell us whether programs in their communities were still feeling the impact of the economic downturn in the Exchange Insta Poll. The results, when compared with responses to the same question in March 2009 and July 2009, are not encouraging (with one exception) ...
Canada: In all three surveys, Canadian respondents indicated that basically their programs were not impacted by the downturn. Or, more likely, this means that there was no significant economic downturn in Canada.
United States: While there were slight improvements in ratings for the Southwest and Midwest regions of the United States in the July Insta Poll, results have basically remained unchanged throughout the period. U.S. respondents consistently have told us that on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 indicating that enrollments and funding have improved or remained steady and 10 indicating that results are disastrously worse) that enrollments and funding are midway between fine and disastrous (with most ratings at the 5 level). Anecdotally, we have been told that even where the economy in a community is picking up, the demand for child care seems to lag many months behind that. In addition, state budgets for child care are still, in most states, well below 2008 levels.
Outside North America: Initially respondents outside of North America indicated that programs in their nations were not impacted by the downturn. However, in the last two polls, ratings (5) are no better than those in U.S. However, this rating covers many, many nations with widely varying situations. Some nations in Asia managed to escape the worst of the impact, and some nations in Africa were in such dire straights already that the downturn made no difference.
It is not too late to express your opinion in the current Exchange Insta Poll on the impact of the economy. Vote today and watch the results all of next week.
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Comments (3)
Displaying All 3 CommentsShishu Vikash Kendra
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Economoic downtrun does not affect on activities of early childhood in India
Canada
From my perspective, Anne is indeed correct. As a group childcare provider, and a biologist in the resource sector, we have seen a definite downturn in most areas of activity, although not nearly to the extent in the United States, and substantially due to the downturn in the economy of our largest trading partner. At the same time, demand for childcare has remained relatively stable with some increase in the number of people looking for part time care rather than full time. Some shortages in child care spaces have contributed to the stability as multiple children are taking up the space previously provided to one child. And yes, income dependent tax funded support for child care enable people who previously paid for a significant part of their child care to now access a greater level of support as a result of reductions in personal income due to the downturn.
United States
One possible explanation for the Canadian experience of recession impact may be the more generous, stable and predictable public funding for child care in Canada versus in the US.
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