The Cost of Doing Nothing

This project conceptualizes a change in narrative in policy development and advocacy, shifting from the existing focus on the cost of policy solutions, to an emphasis on the cost of neglecting fundamental socio-legal problems impacting the lives of children, and their adverse outcomes on individuals, communities, the economy, and society as a whole. It dispels the misconception that taking action is costly, but inaction, or a failure to act, is free. This concept in particularly significant when children are concerned, as policy inaction in relation to children poses a risk of impeding healthy development, leading to negative outcomes throughout the individual’s lifetime, which are expansive and irreversible. Such outcomes exert a spillover effect, as they constrain individuals’ basic capabilities and affect their life chances, productivity, and contribution to society and the economy. This The project develops a novel methodology to valuate the ‘cost of doing nothing’ and uses a concrete case-study to demonstrate the application of the methodology, and the added value it generates for policymakers, stakeholders, research scholars, and the public debate.