Human Capital

A tip of the hat to the Biotech Devil’s Dictionary by STAT, the biotech newsletter published by the owner of The Boston Globe (and Boston Red Sox). The dictionary’s goal is the clear up “a lot of jargon, coded language and outright nonsense in biotech.” Here’s today’s item:

“Human capital (n.): An ironically dehumanizing phrase used to liken living, breathing people to business assets, which is either a terrifying glimpse of the future or a clever bit of Marxist commentary.”

STAT’s example is from an earnings report by Spark Therapeutics: “Bolstered human capital, technology platform and financial position as we expand our fully integrated organization.” What’s that mean? Spark hired a new chief scientific officer.
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