The economic rationale for investing in stunting reduction

This paper outlines the economic rationale for investments that reduce stunting. It presents a framework that illustrates the functional consequences of stunting in the 1000 days after conception throughout the life cycle: from childhood through to old age. It also summarises the key empirical literature around each of the links in the life cycle, highlighting gaps in knowledge where they exist. The considerable challenges in creating credible estimates of benefit/cost ratios for a plausible set of nutritional interventions to reduce stunting are documented.