Q.Why is human development considered a broader term as compared to human capital? Explain.
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Human capital formation treats the development of people's skills and knowledge as an instrument for raising economic output (humans as a means), whereas human development is a broader, human-centred approach that treats the expansion of people's capabilities, choices and well-being as the ultimate goal of development itself (humans as the end) -- making human development the wider concept that subsumes human capital as one of its contributing factors.
| Basis | Human Capital | Human Development |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | People treated as a means (input) to raise production/economic growth | People treated as an end in themselves; their well-being is the goal of development |
| Focus | Primarily education, training and health as productive investments | All-round enhancement of human capabilities -- health, education, income, freedom, political participation, environment |
| Scope | Narrower -- concerned mainly with raising productivity/earnings | Broader -- concerned with the overall quality of life and freedom of choice, not just economic output |
| Measure | Education/training expenditure, skill levels | Composite indices such as the Human Development Index (life expectancy, education, income) |
Because human capital sees investment in people (education, health, training) primarily as a way to increase their productive capacity and hence a country's output/growth, it is instrumental in nature. Human development, in contrast, regards the enlargement of people's choices and capabilities -- to lead a long and healthy life, acquire knowledge, and have access to a decent standard of living, along with political freedom and human rights -- as valuable and desirable for their own sake, regardless of whether it also raises production. Since human capital formation (healthier, better-educated people) is itself one of the means that helps achieve human development, but human development additionally values freedom, dignity and well-being as ends, human development is considered the broader of the two concepts.
OR -- 'India has abundant natural resources': …
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