Department of Economics, NUI Maynooth, Ireland and Research Fellow IZA, Bonn, Germany.
Eur J Health Econ. 2013 Feb;14(1):85-94. doi: 10.1007/s10198-011-0342-y. Epub 2011 Aug 19.
Early onset of behavioural problems has lasting negative effects on a broad range of lifetime outcomes, placing large costs on individuals, families and society. A number of researchers and policy makers have argued that early interventions aimed at supporting the family is the most effective way of tackling child behaviour problems. This study forms the economic component of a randomised evaluation of the Incredible Years programme, a programme aimed at improving the skills and parenting strategies of parents of children with conduct problems. Our results show that the programme provides a cost-effective way of reducing behavioural problems. Furthermore, our cost analysis, when combined with a consideration of the potential long-run benefits, suggests that investment in such programmes may generate favourable long-run economic returns.
行为问题的早期出现对广泛的终身结果产生持久的负面影响，给个人、家庭和社会带来巨大的成本。许多研究人员和政策制定者认为，旨在支持家庭的早期干预是解决儿童行为问题的最有效方法。本研究构成了对 Incredible Years 计划的随机评估的经济组成部分，该计划旨在提高有行为问题的儿童的父母的技能和育儿策略。我们的研究结果表明，该计划为降低行为问题提供了一种具有成本效益的方法。此外，我们的成本分析，结合对潜在长期收益的考虑，表明对这类计划的投资可能会产生有利的长期经济回报。
