The 89th World Bank Group Morning Seminar “Human Capital Index 2020 Update: Human Capital in the Time of COVID-19” | Virtual

? 18 December 2020 ? 8 AM – 9AM (JST)
Virtual

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds. Investments in human capital—the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives—are key to unlocking a child’s potential and to improving economic growth in every country.

The World Bank Group’s 2020 Human Capital Index includes health and education data for 174 countries – covering 98 percent of the world’s population – up to March 2020, providing a pre-pandemic baseline on the health and education of children. The analysis shows that pre-pandemic, most countries had made steady progress in building human capital of children, with the biggest strides made in low-income countries. Despite this progress, and even before the effects of the pandemic, a child born in a typical country could expect to achieve just 56 percent of their potential human capital, relative to a benchmark of complete education and full health.

At this seminar, Roberta Gatti, Chief Economist for Human Development, World Bank, will present the main findings of the report.

Original source: World Bank