An only child is an "filling the gap" investment, while those with siblings are an "expanding" investment? The "purchased education" and "unselected education" based on family size

The media affiliated with the American Marketing Association (AMA) highlighted a Journal of Marketing paper reporting that the number of children in a family influences the direction of educational spending. The conclusion is straightforward: parents of only children are more likely to invest in remedial education, while families with multiple children tend to choose programs that enhance strengths, such as STEM research, exploration, and enrichment. Furthermore, parents with strong negative perfectionism are inclined towards "filling gaps" regardless of family size. The study suggests that educational providers should consider "appeals based on family composition" and "divergent program design," while policymakers should focus on providing tailored support for families with only children and enrichment subsidies for larger families. In Japan, where the number of single-child households is increasing due to declining birth rates, connecting with MEXT's tuition support and the Child and Family Agency's well-being policies could potentially reduce opportunity disparities through both "remedial" and "enhancement" approaches. Although the study primarily offers correlational insights and caution is needed when generalizing causality, the simple axis of family size and parental psychology provides a practical compass for planning, marketing, and policy-making in educational services.