on the heels of the unprecedented food and fuel price increases in 2007-08, global economic activity is expected to contract for the first time since the WWii . in combination, these events are likely to have a serious impact on the well-being of children in lower-income households around the world. An important step towards identifying appropriate policy responses is the frequent assessment of how and to what extent a country is being adversely affected. While it is difficult to rapidly measure the direct impact of the crisis on children, child vulnerabilities can be indirectly assessed by monitoring developments.
