The Foreign Service Journal, April 2007

First and foremost, governments must make health care available to all citizens. Not only does this allow peo- ple to be more productive and increase their incomes, but it also encourages the use of preventative care, which saves both lives and dol- lars. In addition, a healthy population is not only morally desirable but it is an important competitive advantage because of lower absenteeism and higher productivity. Publicly support- ed health insurance would also relieve overburdened companies of crippling legacy costs, which would help firms such as General Motors be more competitive. Second, governments must con- centrate on improving primary and secondary education. In cases where public or local schools are not per- forming adequately, parents should be given other options. In developed economies, all deserving students should have the means to go to col- lege without having to work their way through school (which can sharply reduce their academic performance). Vocational programs should be linked with the labor market to pre- pare for employment those who are not bound for college. Lifelong education is also vital. The goal of the education system in economic terms is to enable as many people as possible to find the best jobs they can. If people lose their posi- tions, they should have the means to be re-educated for the changing workplace through a system of grants, subsidies and cost-sharing. Continu- ing education grants designed to increase the labor pool for those pro- fessions facing labor shortages, such as health care and education, could be particularly helpful for workers and the overall economy. Because many of the best jobs only go to people who can afford to work in low- or non-paying internships, stu- dents should have access to loans or other support during these training periods. Better yet, while it is not the government’s role, the private sector should reconsider the pernicious internship system that often limits 54 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / A P R I L 2 0 0 7 Gains from trade for both rich and developing countries are most abundant when economies are both export-oriented and allow imports.