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Making Sense of the Shapes: What Do We Know About Literacy Learning in Adulthood?

Author

Listed:
  • Jenny C. Aker

    (The Fletcher School, Tufts University
    Center for Global Development)

  • James Berry

    (University of Georgia)

  • Melita Sawyer

    (The Fletcher School, Tufts University)

Abstract

Approximately 770 million adults worldwide are classified as illiterate, with women and individuals in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia bearing the heaviest burden of illiteracy. Despite the potential for adult education programs to bridge this gap, as well as decades of investment, such programs are often plagued by low enrollment, high dropout, and limited skills acquisition. While there is a relative paucity of economic research on adult learning as compared with primary and secondary schooling interventions, recent research in educational neuroscience and economics offers some insights into addressing the barriers to adult learning and some potential ways forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Jenny C. Aker & James Berry & Melita Sawyer, 2023. "Making Sense of the Shapes: What Do We Know About Literacy Learning in Adulthood?," Working Papers 643, Center for Global Development.
    • Handle: RePEc:cgd:wpaper:643
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Adult education; returns to education; human capital investment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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