aviation, robotics and machine tools, and computer hardware and software. Where as 100 years ago countries would have had a comparative advantage due to their natural or geographic resources and would have selected those industries, today they are all trying to compete for the same "brainpower industries" and the comparative advantage is now largely manmade. A country that would like to produce copper could not compete 100 years ago with a country that had copper sources that could be more economically mined. Previously, a similar situation existed with skilled people, as those in third world countries could not effectively compete with a workforce that was geographically closer to the demand for skilled labor. Modern communications and transportation have enabled programmers in Bangalore, India to efficiently compete with software developers around the world. Not surprisingly, Bangalore is one of the computer software centers of the world.Unfortunately, the old comparative advantage that allowed for some winners and some losers will, Mr. Thurow believes, be replaced by head to head competition that will limit the number of companies to master each industry and a zero sum game situation will exist. Much like Microsoft's domination of the computer software industry, those companies and countries that can freeze out others will rule the industry. When the playing field levels out and the other competitive advantages become inconsequential the dominant competitive weapon of the 21st century will be the education and skills of the workforce. Will a country have enough brainpower to create new products? Is the environment supporting the development of new technologies? Does a country have the ability to be the lowest cost producer after the product is developed? Answer these questions as you decide on a second language to learn. As Thurow points out, both the video camera and recorder were invented by Americans but became Japanese product...
