Snapshot : investing in the early years for growth and productivity

Investing in the early years is one of the smartest things a country can do to eliminate extreme poverty, boost shared prosperity, and create the human capital needed for economies to diversify and grow. Early childhood experiences have a profound impact on brain development - affecting learning, health, behavior and ultimately, income. An increasingly digital economy places even greater premiums on the ability to reason, continually learn, effectively communicate and collaborate. Those who lack these skills will be left further behind. Yet today, millions of young children are not reaching their full potential because inadequate nutrition, a lack of early stimulation and learning, and exposure to stress adversely affect their development. Smart investments in the physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development of young children - from before birth until they transition to primary school - are critical to put them on the path to greater prosperity, and to help their countries be more productive and compete more successfully in a rapidly changing global economy.