Globalization Is Transforming Adolescence in the Developing

he largest-ever generation of people aged 10–24 is now making the transition from childhood to adulthood. One and a half billion of them—86 percent—live in developing countries. Adolescence is a pivotal stage of physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and economic transitions, often characterized— particularly for girls—by lack of autonomy. The nature and quality of young people’s adult lives, as well as a country’s social and economic development, depend on how successfully they navigate this critical period. More than three years ago, the U.S. National Academies asked Cynthia B. Lloyd, Population Council director of social science research, to lead an expert panel in examining transitions to adulthood in developing countries and outlining the policy implications of its findings. Two other Council senior social scientists, Shireen Jejeebhoy and Barbara Mensch, also participated on the 15-member panel, which focused particularly on the influence of gender. Population Council researchers have concentrated on the study of adolescents since the early 1990s, committed to moving the field of adolescent policy research from a narrow focus on sexuality and reproductive health to broader attention to social and economic issues that underpin adolescent health. In 2005, the panel’s investigations culminated in the publication of Growing Up Global: The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries. The panel found that despite widespread progress in certain areas, many young people still lack good health and adequate schooling—both of which are essential for ensuring their productivity and well-being. The lives of many of these young men and women are profoundly different from those of their parents. While change itself is not new, the speed of globalization has accelerated and its scale has widened.