This volume is the companion to the 1997 collection of international education indicators from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), "Education at a Glance--OECD Indicators." It aims to deepen the analysis of current policy issues and facilitate interpretation of data using selected indicators of particular relevance to policy issues under consideration. The five chapters analyze topics of concern to a broad audience: (1) costs and expenditures; (2) the stock of human capital available to OECD economies; (3) the literacy performance of adults in 12 countries; (4) educational failure and success; and (5) the efficiency and effectiveness of tertiary education in responding to new interests and needs of learners. Policies to increase equity and efficiency in education and training should consider not only the incentives for pursuing further studies, but the quality of and attitudes toward learning in a lifetime perspective. One of the most telling education indicators in the years ahead will be the rate at which adults engage in organized education or training. So far, this sort of learning activity has been concentrated among those with the greatest amount of initial schooling, but reducing that distortion would bring a "learning society" closer to reality. Each chapter contains references. A statistical annex provides data for the figures. (Contains 2 tables and 36 figures.) (SLD)