This book presents a new interpretation of the role of human capital and the state in driving economic development. It places these ideas within broader debates within the history of economic thought to highlight how the nature of economic activity is a collective and coordinated process. Through examining how the welfare state reversed traditional accumulation by relying on human capital growth, the importance of the state within the development process is emphasised, alongside the multifaceted nature of competition. Different forms of public expenditure are then evaluated to identify the...