Gabriel M Key  

Over the weekend I got into a fairly deep conversation regarding the future of the US and international trade.  My conversation partner (CP – identity to remain anonymous) felt that Senators Obama, Clinton and much of the Democratic leadership in both the House and Senate were correct in their somewhat protectionist stance against international trade.  Simply put, the argument was that by protecting the US economy form imports, we protect US markets from competition and create room for US goods, ultimately protecting US jobs.

While there is a simple logic to this argument, it really isn’t accurate.  On another day I will take a look at how increased opportunities for exports allows US companies to sell more and competition from imports compels US companies to be efficient (maintain lower prices) and provides much motivation for US companies to continuously innovate.

Today, lets take a look at how US policy regarding education is important to US jobs and the US economy remaining competitive.  If each child within the US were to be provided a base line of education incorporating computer fluency (or at least comfort), 12th grade level fluency in English (reading and writing), basic research and composition skills, and strong math skills, then the question of if and how the US will remain competitive would not be a dominant question in the current elections and political maneuvering.  

To illustrate how important education is to a developed or developing country consider the following quote from the Director of MS Ireland recently stated:
•    “Ireland needs to concentrate on significantly increasing long-term competitiveness through investment in education, increasing the productivity of our public and private sectors, while maintaining a pro-business environment.”  -
•    “Education underpins all of Ireland's achievement. To be a world-class economy and society we need to have a world-class education policy to compete in the race to the top. Increasingly education will be a key factor in our capacity to compete and to flourish in the global market. Education is not just an economic tool. It is preparation for life. But the quality of life we can hope to enjoy individually and as a community will be increasingly determined by our educational attainment. We need a generation of people who are equipped and qualified to be leaders in the twenty first century knowledge economy.”
•    -http://www.finfacts.ie/irishfinancenews/article_1012665.shtml



If Ireland’s economic future depends upon a well-educated workforce – and this is the supposed Green Dragon – what does that say about the importance of education to development and remaining competitive?