If it were possible to create consistently world-class results in disparate fields by early specialisation and intensive training, could the world afford to ign

If it were possible to create consistently world-class results in disparate fields by early specialisation and intensive training, could the world afford to ignore it? A decrease in total childhood happiness would be gladly accepted by every nation if more top performers in every field could be created. Perhaps one instead could hothouse a child in the life of the mind and produce a world-class young generalist, with the capacity to become a world-class specialist in a pursuit that makes them happy. I'm sure that happens a lot on an individual level. And indeed that could describe the goals of public education systems. But that's not exactly encouraging. We seem to have methods of intensive training that produce world-class prodigies in the arts and in competitive arenas - musical performers, athletes and chess. Academic hothousing seems a much more mixed bag.