Human capital is crucial to raising the living standards of the poor.
Health care and good nutrition reduce sickness and mortality and improve labor productivity. Literacy and numeracy broaden horizons, making it easier for people to learn new skills throughout their working lives, and thus ensure full participation in social and economic life. By raising people's productivity, investment in education stimulate growth. Better education and health enable couples to make more informed decisions about the number and spacing of their children and about their schooling, and to safeguard maternal and child health. The improved health of educated people motivates them to make still more investments in their education and health.