Joel Mokyr is the Robert H. Strotz Professor of Economics at Northwestern University. He also is a professor of history and co-directs the university’s Center for Economic History. Mokyr conducts research on the economic history of Europe, specializing in the period from 1750 to 1914, or what has been coined The Great Enrichment. We sat down … Continued
By Deirdre McCloskey This essay is adapted from “Liberalism Caused the Great Enrichment,” a paper by McCloskey published by the University of Chicago. Find the full paper here. Any innovation — mechanical, biological, institutional, scientific, artistic, personal — begins as a new idea in a liberated human mind. That point is obvious. But it has not … Continued
The competition for teachers is fierce, particularly in rural areas. By offering individuals like Eveon Rivers better pathways toward a job, Reach University is solving this problem. As The74 explained, Rivers had 18 years of experience as a paraprofessional in pre-kindergarten. She wanted to lead a classroom, but didn’t have a bachelor’s degree. Through Reach … Continued
As Charles Koch Foundation Executive Director Ryan Stowers writes in a new editorial series, history has shown that the right combination of principles need to be applied for humans to flourish. Freedom is one of them. Erica Royer from Utah State University’s (USU) Huntsman School of Business recently sat down with Stowers, a USU alum, to … Continued
Our ability to ask questions, exchange knowledge, and advance new theories gives humans the extraordinary opportunity to create the conditions necessary for all people to find purpose and unlock their potential. History has shown some principles are especially important ingredients in facilitating this progress. As economist, historian, and philosopher Deirdre McCloskey explains in this video, economic … Continued
According to journalist and higher education author Jeff Selingo, there are 95 million adult learners in the United States who never went to college or did not finish. Many of them will need to acquire new skills to find new opportunities for fulfilling, exciting work — and most may be interested in postsecondary education even if they … Continued
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there was an urgent need to help Americans upskill and reskill. The Charles Koch Foundation joined the SkillUp Coalition in July 2020 to connect workers with learning opportunities that equip them with new skills and secure quality, fulfilling in-demand jobs. SkillUp recently celebrated an important milestone: one million workers supported. These adult learners have received scholarships, worked with regional … Continued
Career-connected learning programs allow students to develop the skills they need to find careers best suited for their individual interests and learning styles. Research shows that students who utilize these models are more likely to graduate, remain employed, and have higher lifetime earnings. The Catalyze Challenge supports the development of bold ideas that better connect learning and … Continued
With support from CKF, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and New Pluralists, researchers at Dartmouth, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania launched the Polarization Research Lab in August 2022 to study the causes, consequences, and solutions to Americans’ growing political animosity. We sat down with the three scholars leading the effort — Sean Westwood, … Continued
The Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) has updated its giving standards. While the principles that guide the standards remain the same — our partners call the shots and provide the environment for open inquiry and new ideas that benefit society — the language within the standards has been revised to reflect the foundation’s growing partner network. For … Continued
