What do youths, especially those from poor families, need to thrive in Asia today?

Twenty-six years ago, that question had an answer. Near-universal literacy acted as the fundamental driver of lifting an unprecedented number of people out of poverty, according to the World Bank 1993 report "The Asian Economic Miracle." But now basic literacy is not enough to assure success in fast-moving, information-rich economies.

This is an especially pertinent challenge in Asia, where youth unemployment and underemployment are serious problems. Throughout Asia, according to the World Bank and the International Labor Organization, youth unemployment is three to four times higher than the overall rate.