Why Is the German Economy Cranking?
By FREAKONOMICS, The New York Times, February 8, 2011, 1:30 PM. This week’s Economistexplains why the German economy hasoutperformed most other wealthy nations in the past decade. It’s not because of a “wirtschaftswunder,” but rather a solid focus on the part of German companies, especially small ones, to utilize globalization to their advantage by finding niches and developing good outsourcing practices. The abundance of cheap labor, the recent liberal Hartz reforms and the demand for the euro don’t hurt either — but the main driver has been the cornering of the globalized supply-and-demand market. Learn more…
Preparing for the Future: Improving College Readiness
By SHANNON DOYNE and HOLLY EPSTEIN OJALVO. The New York Times, February 11, 2011, 3:13 PM. This week’s education news includes the finding that fewer than half of New York City’s high school graduates were prepared for college or a well-paying career. Statewide, 77 percent of students graduate, but correlating state standards to college performance reveals that far fewer of those graduates are equipped for success in college or the workplace. Learn more…
Survey: Community college students prize Internet access over teachers
By Daniel de Vise. The Washington Post, Posted February 9, 2011. Community college students have come to view online education as key to their success above all else, according to a new reportbilled as the first national survey of students in two-year colleges. Pearson Foundation hired Harris Interactive to survey 1,434 community college students last fall. Here's the finding that stands out: More than than 70 percent of students surveyed"believe that it is important to have access to high speed Internet in order to succeed at community college," the report states. "In fact, students tend to believe that high speed Internet access is more important for success than having access to advisors or relationships with professors." Learn more…
