Economics of Better Care outlines the economic case for investing in family- and community-based care as a foundation for children’s well-being and long-term human capital development. Drawing on global evidence, the brief demonstrates how institutionalization and adverse childhood experiences negatively affect health, education and productivity, reinforcing the importance of safe, nurturing family environments.
Focusing on Ukraine, the paper highlights systemic underinvestment in social services and argues that rebalancing public spending toward an integrated “cash plus care” approach would generate significant economic and social returns. These include improved labour market participation, better health and education outcomes, more efficient public expenditure, and reduced reliance on humanitarian assistance, supporting sustainable recovery and alignment with EU accession priorities
