School of shock: teenagers get dimmer

About this episode

<p><a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2026/09/08/are-teenagers-growing-dimmer?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">International tests</a> in maths and reading show that 15-year-olds today score what 14-year-olds would have done a decade ago. Our correspondent explains the long-term decline. Is <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/08/31/the-extraordinary-rise-of-miamis-economy?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Miami</a>’s thriving economic growth sustainable? And why <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/08/05/if-you-want-to-understand-modern-britain-listen-to-bbc-radio-2?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremy Vine</a>’s BBC Radio 2 show is a microcosm of Britain.   </p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Mark Johnson, senior editor</li><li>Cerian Richmond Jones, international economics correspondent</li><li>Sonny Loughran, Britain correspondent </li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><p><br></p><ul><li>PISA, education, test scores, exams, aptitude</li><li>Miami, Trump, Florida, hurricane</li><li>Jeremy Vine, Radio 2, BBC</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribe to The Economist</em></a><em>.</em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>