Special issue on lifelong learning.

This article discusses the provision of adult education and lifelong learning in different countries. It highlights the Scandinavian countries and Singapore as having strong systems in place to support lifelong learning, while the UK is facing regional and learning inequalities that are negatively impacting the economy. The article also introduces a special issue of the International Review of Applied Economics on lifelong learning, which includes a manifesto for lifelong learning and various papers discussing the benefits and challenges of lifelong learning. The importance of adult education and lifelong learning in addressing current crises and promoting democracy is emphasized. [Extracted from the article]