A new study says top-performing teachers turn out students who learn more than the students who had the worst teachers. And that extra learning has a huge impact on earnings -- and the nation's economy. Still, some educational experts say the study raises more questions than it answers.
No, it's not a new plague. Rather, it's a little-known economics thesis that explains why uneven productivity gains in different sectors can have a huge impact on everything from consumer spending to government deficits. The latter is the nastiest side effect.
Consumer advocates have been pushing for the government to curb excessive debt loads among graduates of for-profit colleges. But Education Department rules on this issue have been delayed. The regulations should be passed -- and extended to all colleges, not just for-profit ones.