EFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD POVERTY ON PRODUCTIVITY LATER IN LIFE - IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC-POLICY

This paper presents a conceptual model for better understanding how po verty jeopardizes a host of childhood and adulthood abilities. An expl icit link is made between this conceptual model and various policy ini tiatives which attempt to curb poverty or its detrimental effects. To better flesh out the model-and illustrate the myriad ways poverty exer ts its effects on children's lives-this paper reviews related social s cience research. This review reveals that low family income compromise s children's physical growth, cognitive development and socio-emotiona l functioning. It decreases the achievement of children when they are in school and puts them at heightened risk of dropping out of school e arly. Studies also reveal that low childhood income impairs productivi ty later in life. While productivity is partly compromised through lim ited educational attainment, there are other important causal pathways not adequately explored in existing social science research.