English is the global language of business, yet English is also the native tongue of relatively few people, and it is notoriously hard to learn.

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The pre-eminence of the City as a financial centre and of English as the language of world business are also both vital in pulling in foreign workers.

ECONOMIST: Employment

The big question: can the world economy in its current condition sustain the advancement of English as a language of international business in the foreseeable future?

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Another realization was that education is considered the panacea for problems and English language was the language of business (especially in India) and people were willing to pay to learn these skills.

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Last year, the Financial Times, half-owner of The Economist, acquired 14% of the Business Standard, an English-language daily.

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Surely the rise of English as a universal second language is good for business?

ECONOMIST: The economic consequences of the rise of English

Of course, Hollywood blockbusters, wildlife documentaries and English-language business news will always find an audience in Asia.

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Their parents likely had no inkling that their future female offspring would be sitting at a computer taking an English-language standardized test in hopes of embarking on a career in business.

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Just as their poorest countrymen have continued to leave family and familiarity behind to labor in spots like the Arab Gulf, so, too, may a new cohort of the best and brightest look to international business centers, especially where their English-language facility gives them an edge.

FORBES: Side Lines