The economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction

This paper outlines the economic rationale for investments that reduce stunting. We present a framework that illustrates the functional consequences of stunting in the 1000 days after conception throughout the life cycle: from childhood through to old age. We summarize the key empirical literature a...

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Main Authors: Hoddinott, John F., Alderman, Harold, Behrman, Jere R., Haddad, Lawrence James, Horton, Susan
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Wiley 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/152909
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author Hoddinott, John F.
Alderman, Harold
Behrman, Jere R.
Haddad, Lawrence James
Horton, Susan
author_browse Alderman, Harold
Behrman, Jere R.
Haddad, Lawrence James
Hoddinott, John F.
Horton, Susan
author_facet Hoddinott, John F.
Alderman, Harold
Behrman, Jere R.
Haddad, Lawrence James
Horton, Susan
author_sort Hoddinott, John F.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper outlines the economic rationale for investments that reduce stunting. We present a framework that illustrates the functional consequences of stunting in the 1000 days after conception throughout the life cycle: from childhood through to old age. We summarize the key empirical literature around each of the links in the life cycle, highlighting gaps in knowledge where they exist. We construct credible estimates of benefit–cost ratios for a plausible set of nutritional interventions to reduce stunting. There are considerable challenges in doing so that we document. We assume an uplift in income of 11% due to the prevention of one fifth of stunting and a 5% discount rate of future benefit streams. Our estimates of the country‐specific benefit‐cost ratios for investments that reduce stunting in 17 high‐burden countries range from 3.6 (DRC) to 48 (Indonesia) with a median value of 18 (Bangladesh). Mindful that these results hinge on a number of assumptions, they compare favourably with other investments for which public funds compete.
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spelling CGSpace1529092025-05-20T17:41:51Z The economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction Hoddinott, John F. Alderman, Harold Behrman, Jere R. Haddad, Lawrence James Horton, Susan stunting productivity benefit-cost ratio This paper outlines the economic rationale for investments that reduce stunting. We present a framework that illustrates the functional consequences of stunting in the 1000 days after conception throughout the life cycle: from childhood through to old age. We summarize the key empirical literature around each of the links in the life cycle, highlighting gaps in knowledge where they exist. We construct credible estimates of benefit–cost ratios for a plausible set of nutritional interventions to reduce stunting. There are considerable challenges in doing so that we document. We assume an uplift in income of 11% due to the prevention of one fifth of stunting and a 5% discount rate of future benefit streams. Our estimates of the country‐specific benefit‐cost ratios for investments that reduce stunting in 17 high‐burden countries range from 3.6 (DRC) to 48 (Indonesia) with a median value of 18 (Bangladesh). Mindful that these results hinge on a number of assumptions, they compare favourably with other investments for which public funds compete. 2013-09 2024-10-01T13:55:20Z 2024-10-01T13:55:20Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/152909 en Limited Access Wiley Hoddinott, John F.; Alderman, Harold; Behrman, Jere R.; Haddad, Lawrence; and Horton, Susan. 2013. The economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction. Maternal and Child Nutrition 9(Supplement S2): 69-82. Special Issue on Promoting Healthy Growth and Preventing Childhood Stunting. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12080
spellingShingle stunting
productivity
benefit-cost ratio
Hoddinott, John F.
Alderman, Harold
Behrman, Jere R.
Haddad, Lawrence James
Horton, Susan
The economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction
title The economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction
title_full The economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction
title_fullStr The economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction
title_full_unstemmed The economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction
title_short The economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction
title_sort economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction
topic stunting
productivity
benefit-cost ratio
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/152909
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