The essays in this book address the important topic of human capital creation from an economic point of view. Among the crucial human capital-related topics covered are the complex interactions between schooling, learning and worker productivity, individual earnings effects of investment in human capital, the role of family background for schooling decisions, competence building in the labour market and its impact on earning and labour mobility and, finally the importance of the human capital component in enhancing productivity and thereby economic growth.The essays give a huge amount of new information on these as well as related questions obtained from ongoing or recent research projects in these particular fields. This book provides essential reading not only for professionals.