Source: Niskanen Center
by Leah Sargeant
“Improving the availability and affordability of childcare is a complex challenge. Childcare, unlike manufacturing, cannot achieve significant efficiency gains: No caregiver can change two diapers at once. Childcare faces an additional limitation: parents in need of childcare for their young children have limited purchasing power. They are likely more junior in their careers with lower savings reserves than when their children have aged out of expensive care. States have a modest ability to increase the supply of childcare and drive down prices by examining the risk-benefit tradeoffs of regulations.” (10/30/25)
https://www.niskanencenter.org/states-have-room-to-experiment-with-childcare-staffing-ratios