He is an economist and does not avoid making more controversial statements even though they may not be politically correct. José Ferreira Machado, vice-rector of Universidade Nova, understands that “it is a great illusion to think that the key to sustainable economic growth, in the long term, lies only in education”.

The academic will seek experience in economic theories to underline that “accumulating human capital on human capital, on human capital, will not make us sustainable”. “I think that, in and of itself, goes into diminishing returns and doesn’t allow the economy to take off.”

The most prepared generation ever and its connection to the economy and growth served as starting point for the next episode of Visible Conversationson what José Ferreira Machado is from Mão in the debate by columnists Visível António Nogueira Leite and Paulo Carmona.

Without fear of words, the vice-rector of Nova believes that in Portugal “there is a lot of the myth of education”.

“It can be argued that the country does not produce too many studies. Developments are not considered because the economic fabric is not designed for the country, not least because it is academic in the Visible Conversations episode that will be available” website of Jornal de Negócios a starting this Thursday, February 24th.

“For me it is totally clear that investing only in education will not allow Portugal to grow”, he adds.growth is a complex phenomenon that results from the interaction of several.” Therefore, says Ferreira Machado, “we always have to return to an essential point that we learned as economists: the question of incentives”. “The question of incentives for wealth creation , so that more people can cry wealth, is the essential issue of economic growth.”

What are Visible Conversations?

Visible Conversations is a project that is complementary to the Visible Handthe space of opinion that brings together Álvaro Nascimento, António Nogueira Leite, Joaquim Aguiar, Jorge Marrão and Paulo Carmona. Every fortnight, two of these columnists will spend an interview with the “mystery of democracy in Portugal”.

The Visible Conversations of politics identify what is in the shadow of decisions, what is hidden in speeches and decisions, but which will always end up revealing itself in the reality of things. The commitment made by the Mão Visível team is what will talk about the shadows and mysteries of portuguese democracywhere the factors that generate indebtedness without stimulating growth are hidden, where social inequalities are worsening and where economic growth and the expansion of State functions persist.