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The Economic Value of Social and Emotional Learning

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  • Belfield, Clive
  • Bowden, A. Brooks
  • Klapp, Alli
  • Levin, Henry
  • Shand, Robert
  • Zander, Sabine

Abstract

There is a growing body of research emphasizing the advantages of teaching students social and emotional (SE) skills in school. Here we examine the economic value of these skills within a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) framework. Our examination has three parts. First, we describe how the current method of BCA must be expanded to adequately evaluate SE skills, and we identify important decisions analysts must make. Second, we review the evidence on the benefits of SE skills, again noting key methodological issues with respect to shadow pricing. Finally, we perform BCA of four selected social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions: 4Rs; Second Step, Life Skills Training; and Responsive Classroom. These analyses illustrate both methodological and empirical challenges in estimating net present values for these interventions. Even with these challenges, we find that the benefits of these interventions substantially outweigh the costs. We highlight promising areas of research for improving the application of BCA to SEL.

Suggested Citation

  • Belfield, Clive & Bowden, A. Brooks & Klapp, Alli & Levin, Henry & Shand, Robert & Zander, Sabine, 2015. "The Economic Value of Social and Emotional Learning," Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 6(3), pages 508-544, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jbcoan:v:6:y:2015:i:03:p:508-544_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Attanasio, Orazio & Blundell, Richard & Conti, Gabriella & Mason, Giacomo, 2020. "Inequality in socio-emotional skills: A cross-cohort comparison," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    2. Holla,Alaka & Bendini,Maria Magdalena & Dinarte Diaz,Lelys Ileana & Trako,Iva, 2021. "Is Investment in Preprimary Education Too Low ? Lessons from (Quasi) ExperimentalEvidence across Countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9723, The World Bank.
    3. Stephanie M. Jones & Jennifer Kahn, "undated". "The Evidence Base for How We Learn: Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional, and Academic Development," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 2d8a7d46adb54cfebbd00f1e5, Mathematica Policy Research.
    4. Peter C. Scales & Eugene C. Roehlkepartain & Maura Shramko, 2017. "Aligning Youth Development Theory, Measurement, and Practice Across Cultures and Contexts: Lessons from Use of the Developmental Assets Profile," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 10(4), pages 1145-1178, December.
    5. Jianfen Wu & Manlin Zhang & Wenqi Lin & Yunpeng Wu & Hui Li, 2021. "School-Based Training for Sustainable Emotional Development in Chinese Preschoolers: A Quasi-Experiment Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Koohborfardhaghighi, Somayeh & Altmann, Jörn & Heshmati, Almas, 2022. "The Interplay between Organizational Structure, Culture and Employees’ Socio-Emotional Skills within Their Social Capital," IZA Discussion Papers 15316, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. T. Gregory & E. Dal Grande & M. Brushe & D. Engelhardt & S. Luddy & M. Guhn & A. Gadermann & K.A. Schonert-Reichl & S. Brinkman, 2021. "Associations between School Readiness and Student Wellbeing: A Six-Year Follow Up Study," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(1), pages 369-390, February.

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