• The rights agrument
• The economic argument
• The social capital argument
• The cost of inaction argument
• The institutional argument: the MDG

The Social Capital Argument

Large inequalities, discrimination, lack of participation and exclusion hamper economic development and democratic stability, providing yet another argument for public investments in disenfranchised and vulnerable groups (on trust, values, economic growth, see the World Value Surveys). OVC are arguably the most vulnerable members of society.

• Children who grow up outside or in the outskirts of families and communities are less likely to fully integrate social constraints on their behavior. Hence they may be more likely to engage in risky activities, suffer accidents, become pregnant at an early age, contract sexually transmitted infections, and even to commit crimes.
• A large cohort of young adults who cannot find employment because they lack education and proper socialization are less likely to see their interest in maintaining the economic and political system. Hence they may become a cohort for recruitment of militia members, urban gangs, and group of rural bandits.

The cost of non-action or lack of adequate action, especially in Africa, could result in large-scale social capital erosion as uncared for OVC grow up to become dysfunctional adults (see "Dynamic Risk Management and the Poor: Developing a Social Protection Strategy for the Poor").