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The Source: Childcare Costs In U.S. Exploding

Flickr user Roar Pettersen (roarpett)

Working parents in the United States pay far more than their industrial neighbors for childcare. A country like Sweden pays around 4 percent out of pocket, while U.S. parents are paying 13 percent. The role formerly played by mothers has become a mismatched market with not enough care givers to support the working family. Costs are high and getting  higher, so many families are making the choice to keep one parent in the household. 

What are the costs? What things are parents weighing before they make that big choice, and what role can government and companies play?

Guests:

  • Heather Eichling, former City of San Antonio employee now a stay-at-home mother
  • Nancy Folbre, Professor Emeritus of Economics at The University of Massachusetts Amherst, and author of several books including "Valuing Children: Rethinking the Economics of the Family"
  • Celina Montoya, Employee Services Specialist for CST Brands Inc. and a working mother
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Paul Flahive can be reached at Paul@tpr.org