Pass the Books. Hold the Oil.

This article was awesome! It talked about how countries lacking natural resources, such as Honk Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and even Israel make up for the lack of resources exporting by becoming the resources themselves...through education. Students from countries without oil, gas, or other natural resources tend to score higher on tests and have more marketable skills after graduation because of their focus on education. I just have to add a quote from the article that I loved:

"As the Bible notes, added Schleicher, 'Moses arduously led the Jews for 40 years through the desert - just to bring them to the only country in the Middle East that had no oil. But Moses may have gotten it right, after all. Today Israel has one of the most innovative economies, and its population enjoys a standard of living most of the oil-rich countries in the area are not able to offer'"

I love the idea that when a country or culture is lacking in one area, they are sure to make up for it in another. I am excited to visit a few of these countries!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/opinion/sunday/friedman-pass-the-books-hold-the-oil.htm?_r=1

Amy Collyer