The Case against Education

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Education, while immensely popular and lucrative, is grossly overrated. In this provocative exploration, Bryan Caplan argues that its main role is not to enhance skills but to certify intelligence, work ethic, and conformity—essentially signaling the traits of a good employee. He examines why students seek easy grades and forget much of what they learn, how increased access to education has not improved job prospects for the average worker but led to credential inflation, and why employers often reward costly schooling that is rarely utilized. Caplan highlights that the labor market values grades over knowledge and explains how the need to impress employers grows as competitors gain more education. He identifies graduation as a key conformity signal and notes that even the least useful degrees can signify employability. He proposes two major policy responses: first, educational austerity, advocating for significant cuts in education funding to address this wasteful competition; second, promoting vocational education, as practical skills hold greater social value than merely teaching students to outperform peers. Caplan urges a shift from romanticized views of education to a focus on research and common sense, offering a critical perspective on the current educational landscape.