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Curated by Project Syndicate

Education: The Brain Gain

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Education does not benefit only its recipients; it has a profound impact on national economic outcomes. Poor educational performance may be a determining factor in the inability of Latin American countries to rise from middle- to high-income status over the last 50 years. Likewise, education could explain why Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan attained high-income status, while countries like Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia cannot complete the middle-income transition. Policymakers, economists, educators, and business leaders debate and advance innovative ideas about educational practice and policy.

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  1. America’s Childcare Is Unfit for the Postmodern Age
    ackerman2_Brian van der Brug Los Angeles Times via Getty Images_preschool Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    America’s Childcare Is Unfit for the Postmodern Age

    Apr 23, 2024 Bruce Ackerman urges US President Joe Biden to put universal preschool at the center of his re-election campaign.

  2. What Critics of American Higher Education Get Wrong
    tyson117_Eros HoaglandGetty Images_UScollege Eros Hoagland/Getty Images

    What Critics of American Higher Education Get Wrong

    Mar 19, 2024 Laura Tyson & Lenny Mendonca show that a college degree is still a wise investment and a key driver of economic mobility in America.

  3. For Nigeria’s Schools, Safety Must Come First
    brown106_KOLA SULAIMONAFP via Getty Images_nigeriaschool Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images

    For Nigeria’s Schools, Safety Must Come First

    Mar 15, 2024 Gordon Brown writes that the latest mass abduction of students underscores the dilemma facing parents throughout the country.

  4. A New Engine for Human Learning and Growth
    rajagopalan1 Getty Images

    A New Engine for Human Learning and Growth

    Mar 11, 2024 Shruti Rajagopalan explains what AI could do for India and many other countries in the Global South.

  5. Banking on the World Bank’s Knowledge
    saputra2_ADITYA AJIAFP via Getty Images_world bank mangrove ADITYA AJI/AFP via Getty Images

    Banking on the World Bank’s Knowledge

    Feb 28, 2024 Wempi Saputra identifies three areas in which the organization’s client countries could use more guidance.

  6. How to Finance Higher Education in Africa
    monga10MUHAMADOU BITTAYEAFP via Getty Images_senegal uni MUHAMADOU BITTAYE/AFP via Getty Images

    How to Finance Higher Education in Africa

    Feb 23, 2024 Célestin Monga proposes a mix of several funding streams to improve access to high-quality colleges and universities.

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    There Can Be No Business as Usual for European Industry

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