本文討論資本主義發展對兒童地位的影響，以及兒童地位轉變與不良少年問題的關係。本文想特別闡述當代資本主義社會如何延長兒童處於被剝削、強制依賴、隔離或貧窮化，以及疏離的時間。兒童地位的轉移主因農業社會變遷為工業社會使然，本文將先說明這種變遷如何影響美國兒童地位轉移的經驗，然後說明開發中國家兒童地位轉移的情況，因為開發中國家發展策略深受美國、其他資本主義先進國家、以及世界重要組織（如世界銀行、國際貨幣基金等）的影響。此外，本文也將討論另一股反動兒童地位移轉的力量：聯合國促進兒童權利運動。本文認為鼓吹發展策略的政策制訂者，應審慎思考兒童地位移轉的現象，以及其可能付出創造更多不良少年問題的代價。

This paper discusses the impact of capitalist development on the position
of children and how the nature of the position is linked to problems of
delinquency. In particular, the position of children in modern day capitalist societies is described in terms of an enlarging period of time that is characterized by a deprivation of status, forced dependency, segregation or ghettoization, and increasing alienation. This position is initially created as a result of the displacement of children in the transition from an agrarian based society to that of an industrial capitalist based society. The experience of children in the United States as a result of this transformation is highlighted and changes in the position of children in the developing world are discussed as they are linked to the development strategies promoted by the United States
and other the leading capitalist nations, and world lending agencies like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The United Nation’s children’s rights movement is discussed as a counter force to address some of the outcomes of this displacement of children. However, policy makers who promote these development strategies should consider the change in the position of children and its relationship to delinquency as a significant avoidable cost.