The importance of human potential as a factor and criterion of socio-economic development

The importance of human potential as a factor of economic development was long recognized in economics. It proposed an interpretation of the economic realization of this role in the form of “human capital”. However, there are significant doubts about both the theoretical correctness of such an interpretation and its empirical validity. In addition, the concept of “human capital” significantly diminishes the role of human potential in production. To better assess this role, it is necessary to turn to the study of how human potential realizes itself in creative activity. The economic appropriation of the results of this creative activity brings additional income, which takes the form of intellectual rent. However, the capitalist form of appropriation of the results of the use of human creative potential limits the possibilities of its complete deployment and application. Moreover, the results of creative activity often take the form of false, illusory benefits, and even turn against human development. In order to ensure a better social effect of the use of human potential, it is necessary to find forms of support its development that will better correspond to its internal content. The peculiarity of creative activity, which consists in the fact that it acts not only as a means of achieving any goals, but also as an end in itself, allows the widest opportunities for the use of human potential if you provide each person with conditions for the complete development and application of his abilities. To achieve this, it is necessary to ensure priority development of the areas of formation and development of human potential (education, health care, science and culture) and true equality of the opportunities for the development of the abilities in each person, which will create the best possible base for the use of national human potential. Possible ways to solve these problems may be: 1) the implementation a policy of state paternalism and expand the production of so-called patronized goods, and 2) the gradual mitigation of the alienation of man from ownership and management in the economy, which requires the search for a partial compromise between the interests of employers and employees.