A recent white paper published by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation is calling on the private sector to put its shoulder behind civics education and engagement. The paper, entitled “The Business Case for Civics Education” makes the case that a healthy civic sector is good for business. According to the online summary, the report examines “the state of civics knowledge in the U.S. and why improving it is so important to our macroeconomic well-being.”
The report’s two biggest takeaways?
- There is an overlap between civic and workplace skills
- National income is correlated with stable political systems
And the way forward? “More education is one part of the issue, but so is increasing the level of respect that people have for disparate views, compromise, and each other.”
The entire report can be downloaded here.
We endorse the Foundation’s message and are glad to see this important representative of the business community stepping forward and speaking up. All sectors of society win when democracy is strong. Likewise, all sectors of society have a role to play in reinvigorating it.
