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Tyler, writing in the New York Times [2], finds a silver lining in America’s mediocre education system and makes some interesting observations about teenagers and entrepreneurship:
The longstanding criticism of the American school system is that
even in the better schools, too many students just “get by” rather than
engage in a rigorous curriculum. This academic leniency is bad for many
average or subpar students, but it also allows some students to
flourish. Relatively loose family structures have similar effects;
American children are especially likely to be working on their own
projects, rather than being directed by parents and elders.Compared
with those in other countries, American children play a much more
influential role in society and enjoy a remarkable degree of autonomy.
American fast food, with its fatty, sweet and bland tastes, is geared
toward children, as are many American movies and television shows.
Teenagers receive higher allowances, have greater access to credit
cards, and have more money to spend on culture, or, in some cases, to
spend on starting a business. American labor markets are flexible
enough to create a large number of jobs at the lower end of the wage
scale. Teenagers are more likely to acquire work experience, and they
are more likely to earn a small amount of capital for financing a
start-up enterprise.