Economics Professor Jere Behrman has released a new book in the UNU-WIDER-CUP Elements series: Parental investments and children's human capital in low-to-middle income countries
This study reviews what we know about parental investments and children's human capital in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).
First, it presents definitions and a simple analytical framework. Then discusses determinants of children's human capital in the form of cognitive skills, socioemotional skills and physical and mental health. Then reviews estimates of impacts of these forms of human capital. Next it considers the implications of such estimates for inequality and poverty.
It concludes with a summary suggesting some positive impacts of parental investments on children's human capital in LMICs and a discussion of gaps in the literature pertaining to both data and methodology.