The implications of human capital for policy: An essay honoring the life and work of John Tomer

From his 1973 PhD Dissertation to his last presentation given to the Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics in Dublin in 2019, John Tomer emphasized the usefulness of broadening the human capital concept, so we could understand more deeply the benefits of human capital accumulation. John also practiced what he preached, investing in his own human capital with the expectation it would provide a better life. This essay reviews John's insights, seeking to highlight the implications for policy of the broader view of human capital that John helped develop.