National system of education in the context of economic development and quality of life

the article highlights the problem of the interconnection of a high level of education in Russia (53,5 % of citizens have a higher education) with the development of the economy and the quality of life in the country. Using statistical data, the author compares the number of people with higher education and the cost of education in the ten «most educated» countries of the world and shows the impact of these expenditures on GDP per capita and GDP at purchasing power parity. The above analysis of the role of education as the foundation of human capital confirms the role of the unconditional impact of investment in education on the state of the economy and the quality of life determined by the Human Development Index (HDI). The author emphasizes that, despite the first place in the world in terms of the share of the population with secondary vocational and higher education, and the presence of 94 % of the population with education at least below the full average, Russia has only 49th place in the HDI and the last place in GDP per capita among the 10 most educated countries in the world. It is noted that with the reduction of budget expenditures on education in Russia in 2016, considerable financial resources are provided for the implementation of the State programs for the development of education, which makes it possible to dramatically improve its quality. It confirms by the pace of economic development and the standard of living. The information given in the article can be used in the development of special courses of pedagogi-cal orientation and in the studies on comparative pedagogy and the economics of education.