Introduction
Across the United States, more and more families are struggling to take care of children or elderly relatives — or both. Finding care is both difficult and expensive. In many states, the annual cost of child care exceeds in-state college tuition. The caregiving crunch carries other costs as well, according to experts: Companies lose $28 billion a year due to absenteeism, high turnover or decreased productivity. With caregiving problems growing more acute, lawmakers from both parties are stepping forward with proposals. At least three 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have proposed universal child care or expanded tax credits for parents. Congress is debating bills that would provide funding for long-term care and better support for working families. A few businesses are opening child care centers or helping employees with the cost of care. But they are a minority, and the United States remains an outlier in its approach to caregiving: In Europe, subsidized child care and extensive paid family leave are commonplace.
Teacher Latonya Hazard works on puzzles with 2-year-olds at a Guild of St. Agnes child care center in Worcester, Mass. Many Americans struggle to afford quality child care, leading some politicians to call for government intervention. (Getty Images/The Boston Globe/Craig F. Walker)
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Jun. 03, 2022 |
The Future of the City |
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Jun. 04, 2021 |
Rebuilding America's Infrastructure |
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Aug. 21, 2020 |
Economic Clustering |
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Nov. 01, 2019 |
Caregiving Crunch |
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Jul. 27, 2012 |
Smart Cities |
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Apr. 09, 2010 |
Earthquake Threat |
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Apr. 2009 |
Rapid Urbanization |
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Jun. 23, 2006 |
Downtown Renaissance  |
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May 28, 2004 |
Smart Growth |
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Oct. 03, 1997 |
Urban Sprawl in the West |
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Mar. 21, 1997 |
Civic Renewal |
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Oct. 13, 1995 |
Revitalizing the Cities |
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Jun. 09, 1989 |
Not in My Back Yard! |
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Apr. 28, 1989 |
Do Enterprise Zones Work? |
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Nov. 22, 1985 |
Supercities: Problems of Urban Growth |
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Jul. 23, 1982 |
Reagan and the Cities |
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Nov. 18, 1977 |
Saving America's Cities |
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Oct. 31, 1975 |
Neighborhood Control |
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Nov. 21, 1973 |
Future of the City |
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Feb. 07, 1973 |
Restrictions on Urban Growth |
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May 20, 1970 |
Urbanization of the Earth |
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Nov. 06, 1968 |
New Towns |
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Oct. 04, 1967 |
Private Enterprise in City Rebuilding |
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Feb. 10, 1965 |
Megalopolis: Promise and Problems |
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Mar. 04, 1964 |
City Beautiful |
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Aug. 21, 1963 |
Urban Renewal Under Fire |
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Jan. 21, 1959 |
Metropolitan Areas and the Federal Government |
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Jul. 30, 1958 |
Persistence of Slums |
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Dec. 09, 1953 |
Outspreading Cities |
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Nov. 22, 1952 |
Slum Clearance: 1932–1952 |
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Jan. 14, 1937 |
Zoning of Urban and Rural Areas |
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