It is generally accepted that human capital is an important factor in economic growth, but its impact on growth depends on the demand for education and skills on the labor market. Demand for human capital is largely determined by the institutional environment that governs the basic conditions for economic activity. The author expresses ten doubts that there is demand for human capital in the modern Russian economy. These doubts, which are supported by statistics and examples, are grounded in the low quality of existing institutions, which limit the demand for labor and deform its structure. [This article was translated by Kenneth Cargill.]