LACIR Inequality in the early years in LAC: A comparative study of size, persistence, and policies
- We use recent national-level cross-sectional and longitudinal data to examine socio-economic (SES) inequalities in child development of children 0-5 in five Latin American countries.
- There are large SES gaps -up to 1 SD- which are positively correlated with country income inequality (e.g. gaps in language and cognition for Uruguay and Chile are much smaller than those for Colombia and Peru).
- Patterns of SES vary across countries and domains of development.
- Worryingly, child development gaps found at early ages, still manifest 6-12 years later in almost all locations and realms (namely, language, cognition, and socio-emotional domains).
- Gaps are smaller but generally remain when adjusting for possible explanatory factors (e.g., family structure, parental education, geographic fixed effects).
- To reduce ECD inequalities, we present a set of evidence-based interventions to improve developmental outcomes for the most disadvantaged children in society.
