Knowledge economy, learning society and lifelong learning: a review of the French literature

Philippe Méhaut ()
Additional contact information
Philippe Méhaut: LEST - Laboratoire d'Economie et de Sociologie du Travail - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Post-Print from HAL

Abstract: In this article, we propose the hypothesis that "the Learning society" is more a political slogan and prospect than a social reality (In France, as in most OECD countries, public investment in formal education and training has actually decreased since the OECD started talking about lifelong learning). And there is no agreement as to what a future "learning society" should be. Firstly, the framework of knowledge economy has not yet been defined and analysts remain divided on the issue: is it (or will be) an extension of a deregulated, market economy and society, or a more regulated capitalist economy? Should knowledge be considered as a public good or as a marketable one (section 1). Secondly, the consequences of the resulting economic changes for workers and for citizens are unclear. Although most studies acknowledge the development of new (net) work organizations, of new skill requirements and of new opportunities for learning, some studies also emphasize new risks of economic and social exclusion (section 2). And the French specificities are particularly marked in terms of education and lifelong learning strategies. (section 3). Although lifelong learning strategies are sometimes explicitly (but more often implicitly) related to the prospect of a Knowledge Economy, part of the debate is purely endogenous to the educational sphere and initial education and further education remain separated.

Keywords: Projet de formation; Politique de l'éducation; Accréditation; Formation tout au long de la vie; Economie de la connaissance; France; Revue de la littérature; FPC; Formation professionnelle continue (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00085893
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Published in michael Kuhn. New society models for a new millennium, peter lang, pp.117-135, 2006

Downloads: (external link)
https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00085893/document (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00085893

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Post-Print from HAL
Bibliographic data for series maintained by CCSD ().