No small matter

About this book

No Small Matter: The Impact of Poverty, Shocks, and Human Capital Investments in Early Childhood Development documents how the cycle from poverty to poor economic prospects begins in early childhood and illustrates how the cycle may be broken. The book thoroughly reviews the most recent empirical literature linking early childhood development outcomes, poverty, and shocks, making the case that investment in programs addressing the first years of life can be a critical component of poverty reduction strategies. The book identifies programs that have proven effective in promoting early childhood development, focusing especially on expanding preschool programs to at-risk populations as a cost-effective means of improving educational achievement. Of great interest to policy makers, academics, and practitioners tackling the problem of inequality and poverty reduction, this book assesses early childhood development programs from the dual perspectives of equity and efficiency. It includes chapters on cognitive development among young children in low-income countries, the influence of economic crises and other extreme events on early childhood development, promoting equity through early interventions, and the convergence of equity and efficiency in early childhood development programs.