ALL |
META-ANALYSIS |
CITATIONS |
|
Benefit-Cost Summary Statistics Per Participant | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Benefits to: | ||||||
Taxpayers | $145 | Benefits minus costs | ($2,688) | |||
Participants | $46 | Benefit to cost ratio | ($0.36) | |||
Others | $11 | Chance the program will produce | ||||
Indirect | ($915) | benefits greater than the costs | 43% | |||
Total benefits | ($712) | |||||
Net program cost | ($1,976) | |||||
Benefits minus cost | ($2,688) | |||||
Meta-Analysis of Program Effects | ||||||||||||
Outcomes measured | Treatment age | No. of effect sizes | Treatment N | Adjusted effect sizes(ES) and standard errors(SE) used in the benefit - cost analysis | Unadjusted effect size (random effects model) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time ES is estimated | Second time ES is estimated | |||||||||||
ES | SE | Age | ES | SE | Age | ES | p-value | |||||
Crime Any criminal conviction according to court records, sometimes measured through charges, arrests, incarceration, or self-report. |
12 | 1 | 548 | 0.009 | 0.129 | 32 | 0.009 | 0.129 | 42 | 0.009 | 0.945 | |
Alcohol use before end of middle school Any use of alcohol by the end of middle school, typically by age 13. |
12 | 1 | 487 | -0.142 | 0.162 | 12 | -0.142 | 0.162 | 13 | -0.142 | 0.379 | |
Substance use^ Nonspecified substance use (i.e., alcohol, cannabis, or illicit drugs) that does not rise to the level of "disordered." |
12 | 2 | 676 | -0.125 | 0.293 | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | -0.125 | 0.670 | |
Smoking before end of middle school Any smoking of tobacco by the end of middle school, typically by age 13. |
12 | 1 | 487 | -0.158 | 0.220 | 12 | -0.158 | 0.220 | 13 | -0.158 | 0.474 | |
Alcohol use before end of high school Any use of alcohol by the end of high school, typically between ages 14 and 18. |
12 | 1 | 69 | -0.207 | 0.226 | 12 | -0.207 | 0.226 | 18 | -0.207 | 0.360 | |
Cannabis use before end of high school Any use of cannabis by the end of high school, typically between ages 14 and 18. |
12 | 1 | 69 | -0.156 | 0.226 | 12 | -0.156 | 0.226 | 18 | -0.156 | 0.489 | |
Illicit drug use before end of middle school Any use of illicit drugs by the end of middle school, typically by age 13. When possible, we exclude cannabis/marijuana use disorder from this outcome. |
12 | 1 | 487 | -0.230 | 0.131 | 12 | -0.230 | 0.131 | 13 | -0.230 | 0.079 | |
Anxiety disorder^^ Clinical diagnosis of an anxiety disorder (e.g., general anxiety, panic, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder) or symptoms measured on a validated scale. |
12 | 1 | 32 | -0.287 | 0.367 | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | -0.287 | 0.435 | |
Major depressive disorder Clinical diagnosis of major depression or symptoms measured on a validated scale. |
12 | 3 | 708 | -0.254 | 0.152 | 12 | 0.000 | 0.310 | 14 | -0.254 | 0.095 | |
Externalizing behavior symptoms Symptoms of externalizing behavior (e.g., aggressive, hostile, or disruptive behavior) measured on a validated scale. |
12 | 3 | 406 | -0.072 | 0.168 | 12 | -0.040 | 0.102 | 15 | -0.072 | 0.668 | |
Internalizing symptoms Symptoms of internalizing behavior (e.g., sadness, anxiety, or withdrawal) measured on a validated scale. |
12 | 3 | 406 | -0.109 | 0.168 | 12 | -0.109 | 0.168 | 14 | -0.109 | 0.518 | |
Hope^ A positive motivational state, as measure on a validated scale such as the Kadzin Hopelessness Scale for Children. |
12 | 2 | 676 | -0.021 | 0.167 | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | -0.021 | 0.900 | |
Graduate with any degree^ Graduate with a degree from either a 2-year or 4-year higher education institution. |
12 | 1 | 570 | 0.185 | 0.128 | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0.185 | 0.148 | Click to expand | Click to collapse |
Detailed Monetary Benefit Estimates Per Participant | ||||||
Affected outcome: | Resulting benefits:1 | Benefits accrue to: | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Taxpayers | Participants | Others2 | Indirect3 | Total |
||
Crime | Criminal justice system | ($61) | $0 | ($148) | ($31) | ($240) |
Major depressive disorder | Labor market earnings associated with major depression | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Mortality associated with depression | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Externalizing behavior symptoms | K-12 special education | $59 | $0 | $0 | $30 | $89 |
Health care associated with externalizing behavior symptoms | $144 | $41 | $149 | $72 | $406 | |
Internalizing symptoms | K-12 grade repetition | $3 | $0 | $0 | $2 | $5 |
Alcohol use before end of high school | Property loss associated with alcohol abuse or dependence | $0 | $5 | $10 | $0 | $15 |
Program cost | Adjustment for deadweight cost of program | $0 | $0 | $0 | ($988) | ($988) |
Totals | $145 | $46 | $11 | ($915) | ($712) | |
Detailed Annual Cost Estimates Per Participant | ||||
Annual cost | Year dollars | Summary | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Program costs | $1,675 | 2016 | Present value of net program costs (in 2022 dollars) | ($1,976) |
Comparison costs | $0 | 2016 | Cost range (+ or -) | 20% |
Benefits Minus Costs |
Benefits by Perspective |
Taxpayer Benefits by Source of Value |
Benefits Minus Costs Over Time (Cumulative Discounted Dollars) |
The graph above illustrates the estimated cumulative net benefits per-participant for the first fifty years beyond the initial investment in the program. We present these cash flows in discounted dollars. If the dollars are negative (bars below $0 line), the cumulative benefits do not outweigh the cost of the program up to that point in time. The program breaks even when the dollars reach $0. At this point, the total benefits to participants, taxpayers, and others, are equal to the cost of the program. If the dollars are above $0, the benefits of the program exceed the initial investment. |
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Dolan, P., Brady, B., O’Regan, C., Russell, D., Canavan, J., & Forkan, C. (2010). Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ireland: Evaluation study: Report one: Randomised controlled trial and implementation report. Child and Family Research Centre, University of Galway, Foroige.
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