The Tuesday Podcast: How Much Is A Good Teacher Worth? : Planet Money A new study suggests that replacing the weakest 5 to 8 percent of teachers could add $100 trillion to the U.S. economy, over 80 years. We talk to the man behind the research, economist Eric Hanushek.

The Tuesday Podcast: How Much Is A Good Teacher Worth?

The Tuesday Podcast: How Much Is A Good Teacher Worth?

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Elaine Thompson/Associated Press
A teacher talks to her students.
Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

On today's podcast, we consider a plan to dramatically grow the U.S. economy. The plan has nothing to do with banks, stimulus, tax cuts or the Federal Reserve. Instead, the plan focuses entirely on — public school teachers.

Economist Eric Hanushek has been researching education and the economy for four decades. In a recent study, he tried to put a monetary value on good teaching.

Hanushek says a good teacher's contribution to the economy could be as much as a half a million dollars per year.

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