About the Working Group

The Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Global Working Group (HCEO) was awarded a multi-year grant from the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET) to carry out comprehensive and interdisciplinary research into human capital development, its impact on macroeconomic performance and stability, and on personal income and opportunity inequality. The goal of the Working Group is clinical in nature-to increase individual opportunity by increasing the effectiveness of human capital investment worldwide. Since its inception in 2010, the Working Group has grown from a handful of researchers, to 350 members who come from universities, institutes and governments around the world.

James J. Heckman of the University of Chicago directs the Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Global Working Group. Robert Dugger of ReadyNation and Steven N. Durlauf of the University of Wisconsin are co-directors. The Working Group is managed by Alison Baulos, Jennifer Pachon, and E. Raluca Rustandi. The Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics provides technical infrastructure and support. More »