The Welsh Assembly Economic Research Grant scheme supports small scale research projects that further understanding of the Welsh economy and develop the capacity for economic research within Wales.

The main aim of Dr Jones' project is to identify regional differences in the influence of social and economic factors on early child outcomes such as health, obesity, behaviour and cognitive development.

The project will utilise a Welsh Assembly sponsored boost to the Welsh sample in the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), which is a survey that traces the development of 18,819 children who were born in Britain in 2000.

The experience developed from this project, together with the specific provision for training will enhance the capacity for future research using these data at Swansea University.

As the children in the survey age, the data will become an increasingly valuable source of information, particularly for evaluating the impact of early years' policy interventions in Wales.

Dr Jones said: "Recent research has identified the importance of childhood outcomes in terms of health and cognitive development for economic circumstances in later life.

"By focusing on the determinants of these childhood outcomes, such as household income, the characteristics and behaviour of parents and the nature of the locality in which children live, this study should provide important information for policy development.

"Moreover, the Millennium Cohort Study offers the opportunity to investigate the nature and extent of regional differences in these relationships and thus provide evidence specifically relating to Wales."

For more information about the School of Business and Economics visit: http://www.swan.ac.uk/business/