READING DERRICK Z. Jackson’s column “The disposable stadium’’ (Op-ed, Jan. 1), I couldn’t help but think of the economist Arthur Rolnick, who served for many years as head of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Rolnick, who once calculated that investing in high-quality early education produces a 16 percent rate of return, has lamented investing public dollars in sports arenas rather than early education.
In a recently published interview, Rolnick said, “We have a lot more information that there is an extraordinary public return to early childhood education and a small return to investing in professional sports teams. Indeed, we spend billions of public dollars around this country building sports stadiums and arenas.’’
In an ironic coda to these remarks, the roof of the Metrodome stadium, in Rolnick’s hometown, collapsed last month under the weight of a heavy snowfall.
Paul O’Brien
Weston
The writer cochairs the Early Education for All campaign.
