Book excerpt: Education is the first stage in developing a viable, dynamic, and long-lived global economy. Unfortunately, in times of economic hardship, educational programs, teacher salaries, and extracurricular opportunities are often the first to be cut. International Education and the Next-Generation Workforce: Competition in the Global Economy presents a detailed discussion of present educational principles and policies, and their impact on the effectiveness of education in a multi-national context. The chapters in this pivotal reference contribute to the body of literature bridging the gap between the fields of business and education, providing educators and business professionals at all levels with an instruction manual for the next generation of employment-focused teaching and learning.