The first 30 attendees received a free copy of Human Capital for Humans at the event. Additional books were available for purchase. The event reception featured complimentary refreshments and a book signing.
University of Chicago economist Gary Becker won the Nobel Prize largely for his advancement of human capital theory—the idea that investing in a person’s knowledge and skills has a wide range of economic effects. Becker’s writing on the subject was technical, but his teaching, especially in his famous doctoral course at Chicago, remains legendary for its accessibility, brilliance, and applications to everyday life.
In Human Capital for Humans, economist and former Becker student Pablo A. Peña channels this classroom approach to produce an accessible, essential guide to understanding the science that has become synonymous with modern life and the economy. With an illustrative and immersive style, Peña unpacks the human capital approach to domains such as parenting, aging, marriage, health, and household labor. The result is not only intellectually elevated, but an essential introduction for learners and teachers of this subject across business, management, economics, policy, and beyond.
PHOTOS
VIDEO
Agenda
Doors Open
Introduction
Benjamin Krause, Executive Director, Becker Friedman Institute for Economics
Book Talk
Pablo Peña, Associate Instructional Professor in Economics, University of Chicago
Discussion
Pablo Peña, Associate Instructional Professor in Economics, University of Chicago
Tess Vigeland, Host and Executive Producer, The Pie UChicago Economics Podcast (Moderator)
Audience Q&A
Reception
Refreshments will be available for guests, accompanied by a special book signing during the event.