The early childhood development cluster of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is working to protect the youngest children in the region. Find out how. … [Read more...] about The High Cost of COVID-19 for Children
Florencia Lopez Boo
Florencia Lopez Boo is a leading economist in the IDB's Social Protection and Health Division, where she works on child development and poverty reduction projects. She was a professor at the University of Louvain and worked at the World Bank and UNIDO. She has a PhD in Economics from Oxford University (Clarendon-Oxford University Press award). She is also a Young Lives Research Associate at the University of Oxford and the Institute for Labor Studies (IZA) in Bonn.
Can we really change parenting behavior?
This question has been on our minds as we analyze the effects of a recent home visit program implemented by the Nicaraguan government (results forthcoming, stay tuned!). The Nicaraguan intervention, like most home visit programs, targets children’s first and arguably most important teachers: their parents. The curriculum aims to strengthen parents’ knowledge of early childhood … [Read more...] about Can we really change parenting behavior?
When Less Cash Benefits Children More
Low-income children lag behind better-off children in many developmental factors because of their socioeconomic status. These children lack investment in key nutritional, medical and educational factors. Gaps like these persist through life. A child who starts behind, stays behind. … [Read more...] about When Less Cash Benefits Children More
How Nudges can Help Improve Adult-Child Interactions
If you're like many people, “nudging” is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “behavioral economics.” For example, "nudging" can help families eat healthier by making fruits and vegetables the most prominently featured item in the grocery store. Nudges and other types of low-cost tweaks to policy design have had some impressive impacts in Latin America and the … [Read more...] about How Nudges can Help Improve Adult-Child Interactions
Are Your Children Getting Quality Childcare Services?
The moment you pick up your children from the daycare center represents a window of opportunity to learn about how they spent their day without you. You can eagerly (and sometimes somewhat anxiously) ask the caregiver: Did my daughter drink her milk today? Did she take a nap after lunch? Did she quarrel with any of her classmates? … [Read more...] about Are Your Children Getting Quality Childcare Services?