Human Capital

Guy Standing's "Human Capital" critically examines the modern education system, questioning its effectiveness in fostering well-rounded individuals. The book delves into why both educators and students experience stress and dissatisfaction, arguing that a pervasive focus on "human capital" – skills and knowledge for the labor market – has overshadowed the pursuit of truth, beauty, and morality. Standing contends that education, inherently a public good, has been co-opted by commercial interests, transforming it into a tool for societal control rather than human emancipation. This concluding work in his series on the commons explores how to reclaim education's lost values for the common good.
Why You Should Read?
Gain a critical perspective on the current state of education and its societal implications.
Understand how the concept of "human capital" has reshaped curricula and educational institutions.
Explore arguments for reviving the intrinsic values of education beyond economic utility.
Discover insights into how education can be re-envisioned as a common public good.
About the Author
Guy Standing
is a British economist and Professorial Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He is known for his work on the precariat, a term he coined to describe a new social class facing insecurity and precariousness in the labor market. Standing has authored numerous books on labor economics, social policy, and the commons, advocating for policies such as universal basic income. "Human Capital" is the concluding book in his series on the commons.