Most child care in the United States is privately purchased, and while rates have gone up for Americans of all socioeconomic backgrounds, a recent Quartz article reveals that affluent families pay the lion’s share of all child care dollars spent in this country. This also means they receive the highest-quality child care, and their children reap most of the cognitive and social benefits. Meanwhile, writers Corinne Purtill and Dan Kopf note that the absence of quality, affordable care means low-income families increasingly rely on relatives or unlicensed caregivers.