Paul Solman, NPR Business Desk, recently hosted a debate on whether creating more college grads is the key to our economic future.  The debaters discussed the coventional wisdom that the U.S.must dramatically increase the number of college-educated citizens to remain a leading economic power.

Business desk with Paul Solman

Pro:  Falling behind on higher education would cede one of the few remaining advantages of the American workforce in the global economy.

Pro:  Education has long been a reliable indicator of social mobility and financial attainment.

Con: College graduates earn higher wages in the long run, but as the market becomes more saturated with college degrees and the price of higher education continues to rise, the costs may outweigh the benefits.

Con: There is also the fundamental issue of whether the U.S. should forfeit more and more of its manufacturing sectors in favor of an increasingly service-based economy. There are products American manufacturers make well and at a competitive price. To compete with the rest of the world, America must make things. While college is important, policymakers should continue to encourage a well-rounded workforce as a long-term economic strategy.