Productivity, economic development and functional literacy: some findings

Abstract

The paper presents some of the implications of functional literacy skills shortage for the country productivity and its social and economic development. Firstly, it analyses the concept of functional literacy, and shows its measure in the most important foreign surveys, like the Young Adult Literacy Survey, the National Adult Literacy Survey (both from United States) and the International Adult Literacy Survey, this one evolving 20 countries. It discusses the main Brazilian information, pointing to the prominence of functional literacy, apart from formal education. Finally, with the aid of international data, it shows the influence of functional literacy on the wages, unemployment rate, employment situation, and on the continuous training opportunities. Concluding, some strategies and politics are suggested to solve the problem, both at national and company level.