The Economics of Human Development and Social Mobility.

ABSTRACT: This paper distills and extends recent research on the economics of human development and social mobility. It summarizes the evidence from diverse literatures on the importance of early life conditions in shaping multiple life skills and the evidence on critical and sensitive investment periods for shaping different skills. It presents economic models that rationalize the evidence and unify the treatment effect and family influence literatures. The evidence on the empirical and policy importance of credit constraints in forming skills is examined. There is little support for the claim that untargeted income transfer policies to poor families significantly boost child outcomes. Mentoring, parenting, and attachment are essential features of successful families and interventions to shape skil

SUBMITTER: Heckman JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4204337 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature