The Early Years ― Child Well-being and the Role of Public Policy

This book is open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO license.

Children are the future of Latin America and the Caribbean. How they are raised will determine their well-being and the future of their countries. This book analyzes the development of children in the early years of their life and makes a compelling case for government intervention in what is instinctively a family affair.

Spending on effective programs for young children is not charity. It is an investment that, if done well, will have very high returns, and if not made, will lower the returns to the hefty investments being made in secondary and higher education. Policies for young children belong at the core of a country's development agenda, alongside policies to develop infrastructure or strengthen institutions. However, if the services provided (or funded) by governments are to benefit children, they must be substantially better than what is currently being delivered in the region. This book offers suggestions for improving public policy in this critical area.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is an international institution created in 1959 to foster economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean.