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The Effects of Earthquakes on Children and Human Development in Rural El Salvador

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Risk, Shocks, and Human Development

Abstract

Households in poor countries face many risks; the lack of insurance and credit markets, in addition, makes it difficult for them to deal with the aftermath of a negative shock. As a result, households may employ sub-optimal strategies to cope, especially when the shock is large and widespread. One such strategy may involve reducing the household’s investment in children’s education and/or putting the child to work as a way to supplement the family’s income in a time of need. That is, a large shock can have devastating Long-Term effects on the human development perspectives of the affected group through lower educational attainment and lower earned income.

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Authors
  1. Indhira V. Santos
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Human Development Report Office of UNDP, USA

    Ricardo Fuentes-Nieva (policy specialist) (policy specialist)

  2. UNDP’s Human Development Report Office, USA

    Papa A. Seck (statistics specialist) (statistics specialist)

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© 2010 United Nations Development Programme

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Santos, I.V. (2010). The Effects of Earthquakes on Children and Human Development in Rural El Salvador. In: Fuentes-Nieva, R., Seck, P.A. (eds) Risk, Shocks, and Human Development. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230274129_6

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