Can Government Training Programs Boost Competitiveness?

President Barack Obama promises to “make education and training a national priority.” His electoral opponent, Republican Mitt Romney, favors using federal funds to reimburse private companies for hiring and training new employees.

This issue -- what role the federal government should play in developing a skilled workforce -- first became campaign fodder a century ago. Debate over whether the government can promote national competitiveness has raged inconclusively ever since.