Economist Podcasts Minds blown: are we getting dumber?
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Dec 13, 2024 
In this conversation, an anonymous contributor discusses the precarious state of the Russian economy, highlighting potential crises amid ongoing conflicts. Anne Rowe reflects on Shalom Nagar, the Israeli prison officer associated with Adolf Eichmann, unpacking the emotional weight of his role. They touch on alarming trends in adult cognitive skills, revealing many perform worse than ten-year-olds, and debate the socio-economic implications of declining literacy rates in affluent nations. Get ready for some profound insights and historical reflections!
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Adult Skills Decline
- Many adults, about one-fifth, have literacy and numeracy skills comparable to a 10-year-old child.
- This concerning trend is based on a survey by the OECD across 31 countries, testing skills needed for daily life and work.
Global Skill Disparities
- Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Japan show higher than average adult skills in the OECD survey.
- America's scores are declining, while England's are improving, particularly among young adults.
Reasons for Skill Decline
- Declining adult skills may be linked to increased technology use, like Netflix and TikTok, impacting concentration.
- Another factor could be education systems not effectively developing and maintaining essential information processing skills.