Page 13 - Azerbaijan State University of Economics

Muhammad Yunus: Can wealth concentration be stopped?

Technology
Technology is expanding exponentially. What is impossible today becomes
possible tomorrow. Dramatic changes take place in technology in such quick
succession that it does not surprise us anymore. Young people are the beneficiaries
of the full power of this incredible technology. They absorb the new technology
much faster than the older generation. It is only the power of their imagination
which limits the exploitation of each new technology. The bolder their imagination
the greater is their accomplishments. If they start imagining a world where wealth
disparity shall not exist, I can guarantee you it will not exist. The combined power of
the youth, technology, and social business can become an irresistible force.

Education has to play the Key Role
Education has to play the key role to bring the wealth concentration problem
to the consciousness of people. Reorientation of education system is vital. Despite
its ambitious goals, education system has basically become a training ground for
preparing young people to be job-ready. It is assumed that every young person has to
be able to find a job. Job is such an overriding issue that all other purposes for
education had to take a back seat. Education is supposed to help a young person to
discover himself and to find meaning of his life. The motto was to “Know Thyself.”
Now most of the time he is kept busy to “Know Thy Boss.”
I find it extremely demeaning to imagine such a fate for human beings. I see
human beings as beings much larger than spending life time trying to fit themselves
into the wishes of their bosses. I see human beings as go-getters, creator of new
horizons, and problem solvers.

We are not Job Seekers, We are Job Creators
Human beings are packed with unlimited creative capacities. They have to
discover their potential during their life time. Task of education is to introduce them
to their potential as a human being, so that they become aware of their power, they
start imagining the use of their power. The least education should do is to prepare
them as entrepreneurs- as job creators, not as job seekers. There is a world of
difference between the two. By training young people as jobseekers we create
unemployment because there is no job for everybody. If we had prepared them as
job creators, there would be no unemployment.
Can everybody be an entrepreneur -- a question that is frequently asked.
Entrepreneurship is natural to human beings. That's how we began life on this
planet. Millions of microcredit borrowers all around the world are entrepreneurs. If
illiterate rural women can become entrepreneurs, why should we question the

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