As I’ve written about before, a report by the Chief Public Health Officer in Canada looked at this question of potential savings, and estimated that:
$1 invested in the early years saves between $3 and $9 in future spending on the health and criminal justice systems, as well as on social assistance.
It’s rare to see this kind of return on investment. That is, outside of vaccinations. That’s the power of immunizations. Spending $1 on a vaccine for a kid can save $10, but also just giving the same kid $1 can save $9 some decades down the road too. Universal Basic Income as the Social Vaccine of the 21st Century — Basic income — Medium