From Infancy to Adolescence : Growing Up in Poverty

Abstract

The analysis takes account of initial household circumstances and characteristics (such as being in the poorest or least-poor tercile in terms of household wealth) recorded in the first survey round, when Younger Cohort children were aged 1 and the Older Cohort children were aged 8. The authors explore how children and young people’s trajectories diverge over time; and we provide preliminary findings on education, nutrition and youth transitions to higher education, work and marriage and parenthood, from the latest survey round. The researchers find that the poorest children, those in rural areas and/or from marginalised social groups, are consistently being ‘left behind’ in terms of nutritional status, learning and opportunities to continue in education. We conclude by considering how policy interventions at different stages of the early life course can mitigate the development of such inequalities.