Prologue: Rethinking The Economics of Education

Education is one of the central institutions for the economic, social and human development of contemporary societies. Its relevance is not limited to the transmission of knowledge or the formation of individual skills, but extends to productivity, innovation, social mobility, citizen participation and the distribution of opportunities. From this perspective, education simultaneously represents a right, a public good, a social investment and a mechanism for access to better living conditions. However, its effects are not linear or automatic: increased schooling does not necessarily guarantee economic growth, reduced inequality, quality employment or upward social mobility.