How the work of Adam Smith could help solve the UK skills gap
Published: 7 September 2023
Thought piece
Sir Anton Muscatelli looks at tackling the UK’s productivity problem: it will require long-term public investment in quality education aimed at closing the skills gap and boosting equality – a plan the 18th-century economist Adam Smith would have agreed with.
Adam Smith, a pioneer of economics and alumnus of the University of Glasgow, is being celebrated this year on the tercentenary of his birth.
Adam Smith was a strong advocate for universal and public education. He believed that education was essential for both individual and societal well-being.
Smith's views on education were shaped by his own experiences. He was born into a poor family and had to work from a young age. However, he was able to attend the University of Glasgow, where he received a classical education. This education gave him the skills and knowledge he needed to succeed in life.
Smith believed that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their social status. He argued that education would help to improve people's lives in a number of ways. It would make them more productive workers, better citizens, and more informed consumers.
Smith also believed that education would help to reduce poverty and inequality. He argued that if everyone had the opportunity to get an education, they would be better able to compete in the labor market and earn a decent living.
Smith's views on education are still relevant today. We live in a rapidly changing world, and the skills and knowledge that people need to succeed are constantly evolving. Education is essential for helping people to adapt to these changes and to thrive in the 21st century economy.
Smith's views on education are still highly influential today. They are reflected in the policies of many governments around the world, and they continue to be debated by economists, educators, and policy makers.
Read the article on The Conversation website
First published: 7 September 2023