[SideQuark]

> Maybe? The idea that "more formal education is better" is kind of silly when you dig into it

If you believe that is true, then why would a country want to pay for it? After all, the world isn't limited to your strawmen.

The reason it's valuable to countries the world over, why so many want to pay for it, and why most all of them provide some level of public paid education, is it demonstrably results in a population that ends up with a higher standard of living.

Dont believe it? Simply check Google scholar.