Although the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014 to Malala Yousafzai demonstrates recognition of girl’s education as a political issue, the education of girls also has economic repercussions that specifically affect trade. Girls’ education leads to growth in developing countries; Girls’ education results in more skilled labour and higher productivity; To move up the global value chain, countries need a deep pool of skilled, productive labour; For countries in the Asia-Pacific region that are seeking to allocate their public funding efficiently, girls’ education has a particularly high payoff because of high marginal returns and because of spillover effects to family members; Trade benefits girls–when opportunities to work in trade-related industries exist, girls stay in school. Thus, a virtuous cycle exists between the education of girls and economic development.