Expansion of higher education in Britain is driven by political expediency, resulting in imbalance between initial and recurrent education. To reach the goal of a learning society, there must be a better distribution between working time and education and recognition of learning as a social activity, not merely a human capital investment. (SK)

Examines a theoretical framework of research organized by human, social, and identity capital. Reports results from two large-scale longitudinal datasets. Focuses on four outcome clusters: (1) health; (2) well-being; (3) social attitudes; and (4) political involvement. Concludes that education is an absolute prerequisite for promotion of personal…

Although it is true that education is an investment, there are risks associated with relying too strongly on the metaphor of education as investment. The main problems with the investment metaphor are as follows: (1) it pushes aside the notion of education as a consumption good that people want for its own sake; (2) the human capital approach can…