Early Life Health Shocks: Can Policy Interventions Help?

University of Hawaii professor Teresa Molina presented recent work examining whether policy interventions, such as conditional cash transfer programs, can help reduce the disadvantages by those hit by negative early life health shock, relative to those who are unaffected. It is well documented that children who are hit by negative health shocks can suffer long-term disadvantages, in terms of health, education, and labor outcomes.

Giving Kids a Head Start: The Impact of Early Commitment of Financial Aid on Poor Students in Rural China

Poor junior high students in the People’s Republic of China drop out of junior high or fail to matriculate into high school due to financial constraints. Introducing the early commitment for financial aid strategy may reduce dropout and increase high school matriculation among poor junior high students.

Skills Development for the Disadvantaged and for Inclusive Growth in Viet Nam: The Role of Policy, Partnerships, and Programs

To help prevent the occurrence of a middle-income trap, the development of vocational training in Viet Nam is considered a priority. As the market mechanism, however, cannot solve the equity issue in vocational training, the role of the government in setting policies to support the disadvantaged becomes indispensable.

Skills Development for Migration: Challenges and Opportunities in Bangladesh

This presentation provides an overview of Bangladesh, focusing particularly on employment and migration. The need to skill migrants, situation of technical and vocational education and training, migration skills training, and the migration process in the country are explained. It also includes recommendations on how to advance skills development for migration.

Insights from the Global Talent Competitiveness Index as an Analysis and Policy Development Tool

This presentation explains the concept of talent competitiveness. Considered a connecting tool between talent and national competitiveness, the Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) and its objectives are discussed. It also shows the importance of GTCI, an input/output model with 48 variables covering 103 countries, as a benchmark tool for policymakers.