Afghanistan shows what investing in women’s education – or divesting – can do to an economy

When the Taliban fell in 2001, Afghan women saw a doorway open—one leading to education and new opportunities. This change wasn’t just personal; it was national. It was real, measurable economic gains. The results were clear: each extra year of schooling for women increased their earnings by 13%. But now, with the Taliban’s return and another education ban in place, the threat looms large—a potential billion-dollar economic setback that dims the future of millions.

There’s a lesson here, even for those of us living in the luxurious safety of Minot: if you’re going to invade a country, the first thing you should build is schools for women. They’ll do the work of lifting the place up after that. Also, sometimes the gains delivered from education are easier to see in the extreme examples. Get the full story at The Conversation.

Harry Anthony Patrinos

The Conversation

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