A biography for James Heckmanhasn’t been written yet.
“Some kids win the lottery at birth; far too many don't - and most people have a hard time catching up over the rest of their lives. Children raised in disadvantaged environments are not only much less likely to succeed in school or in society, but they are also much less likely to be healthy adults.”
“We can change who we are. We can improve ourselves in various ways, and we can give ourselves possibilities.”
“The scientific study of labor economics provided the opportunity for me to unite theory with evidence my lifetime intellectual passion.”
“It is imperative to change the way we look at education. We should invest in the foundation of school readiness from birth to age 5.”
“The cognitive skills prized by the American educational establishment and measured by achievement tests are only part of what is required for success in life. Character skills are equally important determinants of wages, education, health and many other significant aspects of flourishing lives.”
“I'm instinctively cautious because I'm an academic.”