Questioning National Averages and Explaining Subnational Variation in Early Childhood Education and Care Provision in Spain: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis

This article illustrates that the comparatively high national rate of early childhood education and care provision in Spain masks significant within-country variation. It applies Qualitative Comparative Analysis to test which conditions explain variation in regional coverage rates as the outcome. It finds that there is a socio-economic and a political path to high coverage. Case studies reveal that service expansion has also been motivated by concerns over demographic ageing and population decline. The article contributes to the literatures on early childhood education and care and, more broadly, social investment and welfare state reform.