Explores the main stresses and influences to which every child is exposed - family, friends, youth culture, values, and schooling. This book also makes recommendations as to how we can improve the upbringing of our children. It tackles issues which affect every child, whatever their background.

This is a collection of articles on education, equality and income distribution, and on the lessons of economic transition in Eastern Europe. The author's main argument is that lifetime inequality is the basic inequality we should worry about. In this context, education is a powerful instrument of redistribution, as well as a national investment. The final series of essays in this volume is based on Layard's work on reform strategies in Russia and Poland. There is also a companion volume, Tackling Unemployment.