A Recovery for All: Rethinking Socio-Economic Policies for Children and Poor Households

The world’s financial and economic crisis has taken a toll on children and poor households. High food and commodity prices, unemployment and austerity measures have aggravated persistent inequalities and contributed to a substantial rise in hunger and social tensions. Now, more than ever, investments for the world’s poor are needed to recover lost ground in pursuit of development objectives. People everywhere are demanding change. This book describes the social impacts of the crisis, policy responses to date and United Nations alternative proposals for ‘A Recovery for All.’ With a foreword by Sir Richard Jolly.

"This book offers a critical review of the social effects of the ongoing crisis and underscores the need to prioritize children and vulnerable groups not only in social but also in macroeconomic decision making."
José Antonio Ocampo, Columbia University; former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

"This book combines academic rigour and human compassion to reveal the multiple channels through which the global financial crisis has affected poor children and households around the world. It argues that such crises also represent moments of opportunity for progressive reform." 
Duncan Green, Head of Research, Oxfam GB

"This compelling collection shows that children are the worst affected by economic crises, but this need not happen. It argues convincingly that increasing public expenditures that matter for children can be the basis for sustained economic recovery."
Jayati Ghosh, Executive Secretary International Development Economics Associates (IDEAs)

"This book reminds us that fiscal space is not a question of economic performance, it is first and foremost a question of political will. It is the lack of political will that prevents us from reducing vulnerability of those who have no means to fend for themselves."
Michael Cichon, Director Social Security Department, ILO

"A must-read for the policy-makers and the policy-sufferers, all of us, citizens."
Roberto Bissio, Executive Director, Third World Institute and Social Watch