INVESTING IN EDUCATION - A FORM OF USING THE HUMAN RESOURCES OF A TERRITORY

The economic and social development of a modern nation depends on the human and intellectual capital, in an amount that rivals that of other forms of capital (physical, financial, social etc.). The education process is the one responsible with establishing the level and quality of the human and intellectual capital involved in the development. Therefore, investing in education is investing in development. The process of human development is, often, associated incorrectly with an increase of the general welfare. In reality, it implies other aspects as well, such as the people's option to live a long and healthy life and to learn, the respect of the fundamental rights and freedoms and towards oneself altogether. The human resources may explain the various regional or communitarian differences. The lack of or the abundance of human capital has a great inertia in the territorial profile. Globalization, economic growth and social development have a direct impact on the structural elements and on the cultural function of a community. Experience has proved that there is no direct proportionality between the level of economical development and the level of human development. The welfare of a community does not depend upon the income level, but on the manner in which it is used. Thus, this study presents the situation in Iasi (Romania), the cultural function of the city, focusing on the human development strategies in this urban community.