UNICEF Report Card 10 compares the state of child poverty in the richest countries, and their responses to it. The report shows that while the globalization of the economy has been a major force affecting job quality, the cost of living and the ability of families to raise young children, government action is a key driver to reduce child poverty and makes a tangible difference in children’s lives. The risk of poor child development is affected by government policy and spending priorities. In countries that accept higher levels of child poverty, then, this is not entirely a function of chance or economic necessity, but of policy and priority. 

UNICEF’s cross-country comparison shows that some countries are doing a much better job than others protecting their children from poverty with similar resources. Some are achieving much more and some much less than their national income levels would predict.