Intellectualization of economy and quality of human capital in the context of lifelong learning system development in the world

Abstract

In the presented research, a comprehensive analysis is undertaken in relation to such complex phenomena of the modern knowledge society as «intellectualization of economy», «human capital» and «lifelong learning» in their inextricable interrelation and within a single research discourse. Novel connotations, which have emerged within the content of these categories with the transition to the sixth techno-economic paradigm, were respectively substantiated. The definitions of intellectualization of economy have been provided with the account for specific characteristics of highly skilled labor that are formed by the system of lifelong learning. The latter, it its turn, performs social as well as economic and production functions which attests to an ambivalent nature of education as a public and simultaneously an economic good. It is proven that in all diversity of existing indices and studies on the intellectualization of economy conducted according to various indicators the assessment of the national system of lifelong learning is up until presently not used within these studies in the capacity of a significant factor of development of national human capital. The paper contains a research methodology developed and suggested by the authors for assessment of quality of human capital on the basis of analysis of the state of population enrolment in lifelong learning. The work incorporates an elaborated calculation of the corresponding index for ten countries of the world recognized as the leaders in the intellectualization of economy.