Eric Hanushek, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, dives into the critical role of education in economic growth. He reveals that skill disparities account for three-quarters of differences in long-term growth between countries. With a staggering two-thirds of youth lacking basic skills, he emphasizes the urgent need for improvement. Hanushek also discusses how achieving universal basic skills could potentially boost global GDP by $700 trillion by the century's end, shedding light on the pandemic's detrimental impact on education and the challenges faced by developing nations.
Equitable education is crucial for economic growth, as skill disparities account for three-quarters of global growth variations.
Addressing the global skills gap could elevate future world GDP by $700 trillion, underscoring the need for prioritized educational improvements.
Deep dives
The Correlation Between Skills and Economic Growth
The skills of a nation's population significantly influence its economic growth and development. Research indicates that approximately three-quarters of the variation in growth rates globally can be attributed to test performance among the population. This suggests that the mastery of basic skills, particularly as measured by standardized assessments, is a crucial determinant of a country's long-term economic trajectory. Without the necessary competencies to engage in a modern economy, nations risk stagnation and potential decline.
Global Skills Deficit
A startling two-thirds of the global population lacks basic problem-solving skills, as evidenced by a commonly understood mathematical exchange rate problem. This alarming figure extends even to developed regions, with a quarter of students in high-income countries unable to solve the same problem. Such a skills gap has profound implications for economic development, as individuals who cannot accomplish basic tasks are less likely to contribute effectively to their economies. This widespread deficit highlights the urgent need for educational improvements to ensure all individuals can participate productively in society.
Economic Implications of Improving Skills
Raising the skill levels of populations worldwide could yield extraordinary economic benefits. Historical data suggests that if all nations reached essential skill benchmarks, global GDP could increase by an astonishing $700 trillion in present value terms. Regions like North America would see significant gains, while developing areas in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with their large populations of unskilled workers, would benefit even more. This potential underscores the critical importance of prioritizing education and skill development as foundational elements of sustainable development efforts.
Economic growth depends on several factors, but a new study (forthcoming) by Eric Hanushek and Ludger Woessmann shows nothing is more important for development than equitable education. Hanushek is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and in this podcast, he says skill differences account for three-quarters of cross-country variations in long-term growth. Hanushek also says the global skills deficit is immense, with two-thirds or more of the world’s youth never reaching even basic skill levels. Hanushek and Woessmann are coauthors of The Basic Skills Gap published in Finance and Development where they say reaching the goal of global universal basic skills would raise future world GDP by $700 trillion over the remainder of the century.