Overview

An everyday introduction to the most consequential science of modern life. University of Chicago economist Gary Becker won the Nobel Prize largely for his advancement of human capital theory—the idea that investing in a person's knowledge and skills has a wide range of economic effects. Becker's writing on the subject was technical, but his teaching, especially in his famous doctoral course at Chicago, remains legendary for its accessibility, brilliance, and applications to everyday life. In Human Capital for Humans, economist and former Becker student Pablo A. Peña channels this classroom approach to produce an accessible, essential guide to understanding the science that has become synonymous with modern life and the economy. With an illustrative and immersive style, Peña unpacks the human capital approach to domains such as parenting, aging, marriage, health, and household labor. The result is not only intellectually elevated, but an essential introduction for learners and teachers of this subject across business, management, economics, policy, and beyond.

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9780226841434

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Reviews

""This very fine book achieves the dual purpose of making human capital theory more engaging for seasoned experts while remaining accessible to a broader audience. It also serves as a fitting tribute to Professor Gary Becker, a towering figure in this field of economic analysis. His insights have been instrumental in understanding human behavior and formulating key strategies for development, which can now be further disseminated thanks to Pablo Peña.""--Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León Yale University Former President of Mexico ""A thorough and engaging introduction to the ideas that made Gary Becker one of the most influential economists in modern times.""--Kevin Murphy coeditor of ""The Economic Approach: Unpublished Writings of Gary S. Becker"" ""What do economists know about human capital, namely the productive use of our talents and training? Pablo A. Peña has produced a fun and easy to read guide on this topic, the best treatment we have.""--Tyler Cowen George Mason University writer, ""Marginal Revolution"" ""You don't need a PhD from the University of Chicago to appreciate Human Capital for Humans―but you might want to pursue one after you finish! A rollicking ride through basic questions concerning the human condition, as seen through the lens of economics.""--Angela Duckworth author of ""Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance"" ""In Human Capital for Humans, Pablo A. Peña brilliantly captures the essence of what makes economics not just about markets or money, but about people. Drawing on the revolutionary insights of Nobel laureate Gary Becker, Peña takes readers on an eye-opening journey, exploring how our everyday decisions shape who we become and what we achieve. If you want to learn to think like a University of Chicago economist, skip the PhD and read this book instead."" --Steven Levitt coauthor of ""Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything"" ""With a lively narrative, Human Capital for Humans explains in an accessible way some of the most remarkable contributions of one of the most influential economists in recent memory, Gary Becker. It is a great introduction to human capital theory and even to economics in general, placing human beings and their most consequential decisions front and center. The book is a terrific reminder that economics is ultimately about people, and that it can be absolutely fun.""--Michael Kremer corecipient of the 2019 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics

Author Information

Pablo A. Peña is assistant instructional professor in the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics at the University of Chicago. He has worked as consultant for business and non-profit organizations and is a former chief economist of Mexico’s National Banking and Securities Commission.  

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