Here’s my prediction:
In the not-so-distant future, I predict we’re going to see a sharp decline in university enrolments, especially with liberal arts degrees.
Why?
They have little economic benefit in our modern society.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the education of LA subjects, they offer a lot of value, but it’s becoming harder to justify the cost of the degree.
In the past, a degree meant a better chance of getting a higher paying job, which would then pay back the cost of the degree, and then some.
But now, you have a philosophy degree, or anthropology degree, or history degree… and a massive debt that becomes almost impossible to pay back.
Not to mention, 4 years of your life.
This will also be true of graduate degrees (e.g. business, law, finance, medical, etc.).
Today, there are far cheaper, better, and faster ways to become highly educated on a variety of subjects, and it’s much easier to pivot.
In the future, the economy may not need a widely educated and skilled populous to function.
👉 So what will this mean for our society and culture?
a.) People will prioritize where they can find work, not just what interests them. We may see a rise in trade schools, apprenticeships, and other practical career paths that offer direct job placement.
b.) People will prioritize their finances over their education. Online courses, certifications, and bootcamps will become more attractive, especially in fields where experience can outweigh formal education. These alternative badges and certificates will become widely accepted as credentials.
c.) Companies will invest more in-house training programs and certifications to equip employees with the necessary skills, shifting away from degree requirements in job descriptions.
d.) Societies may lose perspective and knowledge that liberal arts disciplines offer. This may actually hold our species back to some degree.
e.) A potential shift in societal values. Many universities have traditionally leaned liberal in their teachings, influencing students’ perspectives on social and political issues. With fewer people attending, there could be a gradual reduction in the influence of these liberal values on the broader population, potentially leading to a more diverse range of ideological perspectives across generations.
⭐ 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬: companies may not need as many people to run them in order to function or be profitable. So employment will look very different. Millions of people will be unemployed and require some sort of aid to maintain civility. Tax robot workers, communism, UBI, axe inheritance, massive lifestyle downsizing… whatever that future looks like will be vastly different than the world we live today.
Thoughts?
