Social Problems and Economic Performance: Social Innovations in the Hungarian Child Protection System

Abstract

14.5% of the Hungarian population suffers from severe material deprivation. The link between social problems and economic performance is known as well as the rate of return of early childhood development projects, which ranges between 2.38-12.9. That is why the domestic adaptation of the English Sure Start Programme is of extreme importance. Due to the small capacity of the Hungarian educational system for disadvantage compensation, the functioning of study halls is also necessary. They ensure opportunities for valuable free-time activities for and development of disadvantaged children. The spread of both social innovations was supported by EU funds, but the introduction of a stable, local funding of the programmes has begun and both initiatives have become part of the Hungarian law on child protection.