The impact of inequalities in the early years on outcomes over the life course: Using international evidence to identify creative policy solutions

Inequality in early life is one of the most significant risk factors throughout childhood and into adulthood across a range of domains, including poverty, poor health, low educational attainment, unemployment, reduced wellbeing, criminal behaviour and early death. A growing body of evidence from across a range of international jurisdictions supports the proposition that policy efforts to eradicate exposure to inequality during the earliest stages of life could have a dramatic effect on reducing negative outcomes across the life-course and improving longevity, wellbeing and life success. These stark facts were the inspiration for a symposium on ‘The impact of inequalities in the early years on outcomes over the life course: Using international evidence to identify creative policy solutions’. The event was supported financially by the Economic and Social Research Council’s international networking fund and hosted by the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on the 11th of February 2019. This report presents an overview of the symposium.