The first five years of life are a unique window of opportunity: extensive research confirms the lasting effect of investments during this period on later economic success and well-being, including labor market earnings and risky behaviors in adulthood. This is why early childhood development (ECD) policies have an unparalleled rate of effectiveness to strengthen human capital … [Read more...] about Unequal From the Beginning (…and for Quite Some Time): A Longitudinal Study of Socioeconomic Gaps in Early Childhood in 5 Latin American Countries
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Childcare Is Good for Mothers, and It’s Good for Kids, Too
Programs that provide care for children are good for women’s economic activity. More than 95 percent of studies in low—and middle-income countries show this, and studies in high-income countries show a similar pattern. For example, providing preschool in Argentina boosted mothers’ full-time employment. Providing daycare in Brazil boosted mothers’ work in the city of Sao Paulo … [Read more...] about Childcare Is Good for Mothers, and It’s Good for Kids, Too
Extreme Heat and Its Impact on Early Child Development: How Can We Protect Young Children?
Climate change affects children’s development in different ways and extreme heat is a crucial factor that must be kept in mind. Last year – 2023 – was estimated to be the hottest year on record, ever since temperatures began to be recorded. Heat waves are occurring with greater frequency and lasting for longer periods of time. We are experiencing much higher temperatures than … [Read more...] about Extreme Heat and Its Impact on Early Child Development: How Can We Protect Young Children?
Healthier children, in healthier cities
Among the initiatives of the IDB Cities Lab, a now widely spread documentary has circulated a provocative phrase: "Your zip code affects your health more than your genetic code." But what does that mean? A zip code is a number assigned to identify and locate a given geographical area. The genetic code is the set of information and rules that determine cell reproduction. How can … [Read more...] about Healthier children, in healthier cities
How to Apply Behavioral Economics to Early Childhood? Some Experiences from the Region
Understanding how people make decisions is of interest not only to economists, but has become a focus for many disciplines that now recognize the growing contribution of behavioral change approaches to policies and programs. In this way, behavioral economics has made its way into global social agendas due to its broad impact, and fortunately, the early childhood agenda is no … [Read more...] about How to Apply Behavioral Economics to Early Childhood? Some Experiences from the Region