Zach Du, Chapter 6, Question 6

In Chapter 6, Wheelan gives us some compelling datas to demonstrate the importance of productivity and human capital:"In 1870, the typical household required 1,800 hours of labor just to acquire its annual food supply; today, it takes about 260 hours of work. Over the course of the twentieth century, the average work year has fallen from 3,100 hours to about 1,730 hours"(136). All of these progresses because one simple rule:"the more productive we are, the richer we are"(135). Nobody has to be poor in the first place; if a person is aware of the importance of human capital and productivity, he or she would definitely work hard in school, therefore find a better job and increase the productivity in certain field which they work for. "Human capital creates opportunities. It makes us richer and healthier; it makes us more complete human beings; it enables us to live better while working less. Most important from a public policy perspective, human capital separates the haves from the have-nots"(147).