The way a person will develop over the lifespan is largely determined by the first few years of life. A substantial share of the inequalities in health and socioeconomic status observed in adult life originate during childhood (and even while in utero). In this paper, we first review the literature on the impact of childhood conditions throughout the life cycle. We next discuss some of the social and biological mechanisms behind the transmission of the effects of poverty during the prenatal period, childhood, and adulthood. We then analyze several international experiences aimed at reducing intergenerational transmission of poverty. The article ends with some critical thoughts and policy recommendations to avoid the possible long-term effects of the current crisis on the health and socioeconomic status of the "children of the crisis" in Spain.
Keywords: Childhood conditions; Condiciones en la infancia; Crisis económica; Economic crisis; Efectos de largo plazo; Intergenerational transmission; Long-term effects; Mecanismos de transmisión; Pobreza; Poverty; Transmisión intergeneracional; Transmission mechanisms.
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