Those who have spent time in a kindergarten classroom know that there are remarkable differences in children's skills. Research has shown that these skill differences are strongly tied to age, with students who enter kindergarten later in life doing better than younger entrants. Moreover, an...

Young Americans have to compete for jobs not only with other Americans but also with qualified job-seekers worldwide. Are they ready for the challenge? This Letter sheds new light on the question by analyzing data from the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS).