Human Capital and Human Potential

The article reveals the evolution of views on the role of a human in economics in the papers of economists of different scientific schools and trends. The essence and structure of human potential, the importance of which is occupied, both by economic and non–economic elements and factors that characterize the development of an „homo economicus” into a „homo creativus”, in the process of transforming of economic and social relations, and their transition to a qualitative new level have been determined. Main differences between the categories „human capital” and „human potential” are determined. These features based according to main characteristics, such as: object of research, human growing role, main motive of social development, theoretically-economical basement, source of reproduction, evolution target and so on. Human capital is a first historical conception, which characterizes the human role in production. Human potential is a further way, which concerns not only manufacturing, but all social processes. Modern development of a human capital conception, day-by-day nearing the human potential theory.