Johnson: What is a Foreign Language Worth?

An article in the Economist takes a critical look at the monetary value of foreign language learning. By looking at the supply and demand of proficiency in different languages, the article explains why learning certain languages can provide greater returns. "Albert Saiz ... found quite different premiums for different languages: just 1.5% for Spanish, 2.3% for French and 3.8% for German," writes the Economist.