The child-care debate is fuelled by various protagonists - early-childhood experts, educators, sociologists, economists - who each tend to consider only one aspect of this multifaceted problem. Consequently, the debate is often confused and inconclusive, particularly when it comes to establishing government policy.

To ensure rationality in such public decisions, a general framework is needed to encompass all relevant aspects. This paper proposes a methodological approach to designing such a framework.