EQUITY, ECONOMICS AND GEOGRAPHY: TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF SKILLS FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

 The classic issue of the distribution of income and wealth and the criteria in order to establishing a desirable distribution axiologically, equitable, have brought back to the center of public debate in developed countries. The recent economic crisis and the mass unemployment levels from European societies, the questioning of the institutions of the Welfare State, the reformulation of the international division of labor stemming from globalization (Castells, 2006), and the impact on environment of a growing world population have all been key contributors. In the same sense, the concept of sustainable development incorporates environmental and economic dimensions with a perspective of great interest for the teaching of economics and geography. Besides, the new globalized society has revealed that we need to revise the traditional educational conceptions and methodologies and redirect them to the development of skills that enable lifelong learning possibilities. In this context, one of the challenges facing educational systems is to explore the incorporation of new contents and forms of collaboration in order to facilitate a full perception of the complex social reality in which citizens have to operate.