POLICY BRIEF
WHY WE NEED POLICY ACTION
Childhood is a critical period for the development of human and social capital of individuals. However far too many children do not get the best possible start in life due to poverty during their early years. Child poverty is not a new policy issue, but it has received renewed attention with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals. This policy brief highlights the current state of child poverty in OECD countries and why we need policy action.
Key messages;
On average across the OECD, almost one in seven lives in income poverty.
Child poverty rates increased in almost two thirds of OECD countries following the Great Recession 2007/08
In many countries the breadth and depth of poverty has increased in recent years
Stable, full-time parental employment is central to efforts to protect children from poverty
Promoting work among low-income parents requires strengthened support for affordable childcare services. Moreover parents from poorest families often face multiple obstacles to their return to work which requires appropriate and intensive assistance
A budget neutral redistribution of family and housing benefits to poor families can help reduce child poverty
