Edward Conard

Top Ten New York Times Bestselling Author

  • “…a comprehensive explanation of the modern economy.” - Julian Robertson, Founder, Tiger Management
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  • “…challenges misconceptions that distort our economic debates.” - Arthur Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute
  • “…a comprehensive explanation of the modern economy.” - Julian Robertson, Founder, Tiger Management
  • “…a fresh argument for the productive value of inequality.” - David Autor, Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • “Unintended Consequences is far smarter and more thought-provoking than most economics written for the general public” - Greg Mankiw, Harvard University, Former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors
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  • “Unintended Consequences is full of substance, it is one of the must-read books of the year, and once I finish it I will be giving it a second read through right away.” - Tyler Cowen, Professor, George Mason University
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  • “…challenges misconceptions that distort our economic debates.” - Arthur Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute
  • “Unintended Consequences offers deep and well-argued analyses on almost every issue.” - The New York Times
Upside of Inequality Oxford Unintended Consequences

OECD Staff Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Date Posted:
Is Database:
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The U.S. has a disproportionate number of low-skilled workers compared to high-skilled ones, 3 to 4 times greater than in Northern Europe.

In the U.S., only 8.5% of adults achieve the highest numeracy levels, while 28.7% fall into the lowest skill category, resulting in a ratio of 0.3 high-scoring adults per low-scoring adult. This contrasts sharply with Germany, where 14.2% score at the highest levels and 18.4% at the lowest, yielding nearly three times more high-scoring adults per low-scoring adult than the U.S. Scandinavia surpasses this with over four times as many, and Japan leads with nearly eight times as many. These disparities highlight America's disproportionate number of low-skilled workers compared to high-skilled ones, which is 3 to 4 times greater than in Northern Europe. Consequently, the U.S. has half the talent per capita compared to other leading high-wage economies, necessitating twice the supervisory resources to manage its workforce effectively.

“…8.5 percent of adult Americans score at the highest numeracy levels, and 28.7 percent score at the lowest skill levels. America has 0.3 high-scoring adults for every low-scoring adult. In contrast, 14.2 percent of German adults score at the highest levels and 18.4 percent score at the lowest.Astonishingly, Germany has nearly three times more high-scoring adults per low-scoring adult than the United States. Scandinavia has more than four times as many. Japan has nearly eight times as many America has half as much talent per capita as the other most successful high-wage economies and twice the supervisory needs….”

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, “Numeracy Score, Survey Of Adult Skills,” PIAAC Data, Accessed August 20, 2020, https://www.oecd.org/skills/piaac/

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