The social investment on education

This paper discusses the investment in education within a more comprehensive approach that includes the need to conceive social spending not as a cost to the economy, but as a necessary investment to positively redound in the efficient functioning of the welfare state. Sustainable, strong and shared growth would be ensured this way, capable to respond to new social needs. Highly relevant literature on social investment strategy is collected here in order to emphasize that a proactive strategy based on the development and education throughout life is fundamental to the new imperatives, to prevent rather than just repair. It is therefore necessary to promote early childhood care, to improve the education system as a whole and academic excellence within the approach of social policy as a productive factor.