Knowledge Map of Human Capital Development: A Scientometric Study Using VOSviewer

Despite the rapid growth of scholarly and policy interest in the middle-income trap (MIT) since its formal introduction in 2007, the literature remains fragmented, with limited efforts to systematically map its intellectual structure or thematic evolution. This study presents the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of MIT research, covering 385 publications indexed in the Web of Science (2009–2025). Using a triangulated methodology that integrates Bibexcel for performance metrics, VOSviewer for co-authorship and keyword network mapping, and SciMAT for longitudinal thematic evolution, the study identifies the core trajectories, knowledge clusters, and strategic shifts that have shaped the field over time. Results reveal a dynamic research domain increasingly grounded in themes such as structural transformation, innovation capacity, institutional reform, and human capital development, with strong regional concentration in Asia and Latin America. Thematic evolution analysis demonstrates both conceptual maturation and persistent fragmentation, as the core notion of the MIT remains under-theorized and variably defined. By exposing the field’s structural dynamics, dominant actors, and conceptual gaps, this study offers a critical roadmap for scholars, while providing policymakers with a consolidated view of the research frontiers most relevant to long-run growth and developmental upgrading.

The advent of technologies has stimulated the economic growth of western countries, however, some Asian and African countries are among the Lower Middle Income Countries due to lack of technology adoption and digitally skilled human capital. The use of technologies produces digital competent human capital stock that accelerates economic growth. The prime goal of this article is to explore dynamics of technology adoption, technology innovation, human capital and skill development for Lower Middle Income Countries region over the period 2000-2016 by Generalised Method of Moments and cross sectional dependence. New technology adoption, technology innovation and human capital & skill development indices are formulated. The empirical findings indicate that human capital development & skill and investment have positive linkage with Lower Middle Income Countries economic growth while technology adoption and innovation have different linkage across the Lower Middle Income Countries regions. The panel error correction method was applied to estimate short run dynamics and convergence rate. The fully modified ordinary least square was applied to authenticate whether the long run estimates are consistent and valid for policy implications. The findings propose policy implications for advance technology adoption and innovation with the focus on human capital development & skill and investment in Lower Middle Income Countries region.

This study examined the influence of FDI on human capital development in emerging markets. It also explored the role of financial development in FDI-led human capital development in emerging markets. The study used the dynamic generalized methods of moments (GMM) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS). It also utilized panel data ranging from 2004 to 2019. Models 2 and 3 of FMOLS (fully modified ordinary least squares) indicate a significant enhancing impact of FDI on the development of human capital, while model 1 of FMOLS and all three models of the dynamic GMM (generalized methods of moments) show an insignificant influence of FDI on human capital. Models 1, 2, and 3 under the dynamic GMM and models 1 and 3 under FMOLS demonstrate a significant enhancing influence of the complementarity variable on human capital development. This implies that financial development improved FDI’s chances of contributing to the significant development of human capital. The study indicates that FDI is an important pillar in improving human capital development in emerging markets. Policies aimed at improving FDI inflows and deepening the financial sector should be implemented by emerging markets to significantly develop the human capital base of their economies.

The disparity between budget and human capital development over the years questions the performance of budget in Nigeria. Budget performance measures are expected to be positive if human capital development will improve in any nation. Therefore, the study investigated the effect of budget performance on human capital development in Nigeria. The study employed descriptive longitudinal research design and inferential statistics. Secondary data were extracted from annual budget and human development reports. The population for this study comprised all the twenty-four (24) federal Ministries in Nigeria. A sample size of 4 ministries (education, health, agriculture and rural development, science and technology) were purposively selected. Data collected were analysed using Autoregressive Distributed Lag model. The results of the short run effect of budget performance on human capital development showed that budget effectiveness (t = 4.1593, P 0.01), budget efficiency (t = 4.3163, P 0.01), inflation rate (t = -2.2254, P 0.05) all had positive and significant effect on human capital development. The long run result revealed that budget effectiveness (t = 4.6777, P 0.01), budget efficiency (t = 3.6078, p 0.05), budget discipline (t = 2.6789, P 0.05) and debt burden (t = 2.1050, p 0.1) had positive and significant effect on human capital development. The study concluded that budget performance has significant effect on human capital development.

Effective human capital development is a major prerequisite to equip employees to acquire relevant new ideas, competencies and adapt to a changing market, and effectively drive organizational competitive advantage in order to achieve the survival goals. This paper theoretically examines the relationship between human capital development and organizational survival. It notes that human capital development is essential to equip the employees towards taking the organization to its expected destination. The paper concludes that by developing employee's human capital, an organization improves her performance, productivity and innovative abilities which are essential for survival. In addition, human capital developments tend to turn human resources into a more tangible assets, as well as help match up the employees to strategic organization needs. It is recommended that organizations should invest in the various aspect of human capital development as it helps firms to attain greater performance and to remain competitive for their long-term survival. Business firms should cultivate high human capital development practices as human capital development drives employee's loyalty, commitment and a sense of employee's feeling of obligation toward the organization. Additionally, organizations should make human capital development an important aspect of their corporate strategic plan to upgrade their employees skills, enhance their conceptual knowledge, and broadens their understanding of the organizations total business objectives and values.

This paper investigates the relationship between human capital development and foreign direct investment (FDI). In particular, the direction of causality between these two variables is the main focus of this study. This study has been necessitated by the failure by many previous researchers to concur on the causal relationship between FDI and human capital development. Some authors argue that there is a uni-directional causality relationship running from FDI to human capital development whilst others are saying the causality runs the other way round from human capital development to FDI. The other group of authors says there is a bi-directional relationship between these two variables whilst the fourth and last group of authors maintains that there exist no causal relation at all between FDI and human capital development. Using the lagged error correction model (ECM), the study observed that FDI measured by FDI, net inflows (% of GDP) was Granger caused by human capital development (proxied by pupil-teacher ratio) both in the short and long run. However, the null hypothesis which says that FDI Granger caused human capital development was rejected both in the short and long run. The author therefore recommends the intensification of teacher-pupil ratio improvement programmes in order not only to increase FDI inflow but to ensure Austria benefits from that increased FDI inflow

This study examines human capital development and economic growth nexus in Nigeria using ex post facto research design. The study applied an econometric regression technique of the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) to ascertain the effect of macroeconomic growth induced variables on human capital development in Nigeria. Our findings from the cointegrating regression result test suggest that there is strong evidence of cointegration between dependent variable (HCD) and the independent Variables. Thestudy revealed a long-run causal relationship between dependent variable (HCD) and the independent Variables. It could be observed from our findings that the relationship between some of the variables like TGE, TEE, THE, and FDI and human capital development is positive while that of LEI is negative. This means that TGE, TEE, THE, and FDI have direct relationships with human capital development. In other words, an increase in TGE, TEE, THE, and FDI will results to a rise in human capital development whereas an increase in LEI will probably result in a fall in human capital development. In addition, the results show that TGE, TEE, THE, and FDI have statistical significance on human capital development in Nigeria while LEI is statistically insignificance on human capital development. This study therefore recommends that the government should give educational grants, provide vocational training, provide basic health facilities; enhance the competitiveness of the economy. This will avail the country the enhanced entrepreneurial creativity, a suitable, competent, healthy and educated labor force to contribute meaningfully to national development. The government should make adequate budget for education in line with the UNESCO recommendation. This will help facilitate proper administration of financial revenues and other school resources. There is the need for increased government funding for health care. They will help reduce the challenges in healthcare and the increasing medical tourism outside the country and consequently enhance the countries life expectancy. The government should create a secured and business friendly environment to help attract FDI in the country.

This study investigates the direct and moderating effects of financial development (FD) and human capital development (HCD) on foreign direct investment (FDI) and identifies the human capital development threshold that triggers a significant impact on FDI in sixteen emerging economies from 2010 to 2023. Panel threshold and panel-corrected standard error regression methods are employed to explore these factors’ direct and conditional effects on FDI. The findings indicate that, initially, FD and HCD negatively affect FDI. This can be attributed to short-term costs associated with structural adjustments and economic instability periods for the selected emerging economies. However, when these variables were interacted, their impact on FDI became positive with a total effect of 1.404, revealing the complementary effect of FD and HCD on FDI. Furthermore, a critical threshold was identified for HCD (0.7919), beyond which its impact on FDI becomes positive, facilitating long-term economic gains. Similarly, FD shifts from a negative to a positive effect as financial systems achieve greater stability and efficiency. The study emphasizes the importance of strategic investment in human capital and efforts to enhance financial sector stability to attract and sustain FDI in emerging markets. It reveals that this approach increases FDI inflows and ensures sustainable economic development over time. The study offers critical insights for policymakers to prioritize structural reforms in education, workforce skills, and financial governance to create an enabling environment for FDI. Furthermore, it highlights the relevance of understanding threshold dynamics to design targeted policies that maximize economic returns from foreign investment in emerging economies.

Recent discussions have stressed the need for improved human capital development (HCD) in Zimbabwe and other developing nations on the grounds that, a nation's human capital is vital for future technological breakthroughs, international competitiveness and sustainable economic development towards the improvement in service delivery. This research study explains the importance of human capital, programme and project development strategies towards improving service delivery in the country. The article adopts a desktop study in formulating the relevant meaning of HCD, project and programme development towards effective service delivery in the country. The key findings and emerging issues indicate that investing in HCD is a key factor in developing projects and programmes in the spirit of industrialisation towards improving service delivery in Zimbabwe as it promotes entrepreneurship, job creation, wealth creation, youth empowerment, peaceful society and economic development.

This study examined the impact of tax revenue on human capital development in Nigeria from 2013 to 2022.Data on five significant taxes in Nigeria were observed as explanatory variables: Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Educational Tax (EDT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Company Income Tax (CIT), and Customs and Excise Duties (CED). At the same time, Nigerian Human Development Index (HDI) were utilized to measure Human Capital Development. The study used secondary data obtained from the Central Bank Nigeria annual statistical bulletin, World Development Indicator and Federal Inland Revenue Service publications. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller Unit root test was used to determine the stationarity and order of integration of the research variables. Thereafter, these variables were integrated into order one. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) Log –Log Model was adopted to estimate parameters for analysis. Results showed that CIT and VAT positively and significantly affect Human Capital Development. PPT and EDT showed positive but insignificant effect, while CED has a negative insignificant effect on Human Capital Development in Nigeria. It was recommended, among other things, that Nigerian government, through the fiscal policy makers should utilize significant proportion of tax revenue in financing human capital development infrastructure.

The proposed contribution of this empirical study was the formulation of an exploratory human capital development model aligned to performance management for administrative employees at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). The human capital development model comprised of elements that encapsulated the link between performance improvement aided with human capital development strategies and the positive outcomes that stems from improved performance. In the context of the study, there is no standardised human capital development model for administrative employee at DUT. Hence, the study seeks to develop a human capital development model for administrative employees. The objective of the study was to develop a model that integrates the procedures of managing institutional performance with the development of its employees. The research design adopted a quantitative paradigm, using a self- administered questionnaire that was mailed to a sample 254 administrative employees. A significant response rate of 68.1% was obtained as 173 respondents returned the questionnaire. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 24 for Windows. There were some significant findings that emerged from this study. It was indicated that 99.4% of respondents were not subjected to a performance evaluation, while 74% of the respondents showed that human capital development improved performance. A further 87.7% of the respondents reported that human capital development influence promotional opportunities, while 74.5% of the respondents responded to human capital development being linked to succession planning. A further 61.85% of the respondents also indicated that management commitment was imperative for the effective implementation of performance management systems. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and the Barlett’s Test of Sphercity indicated the factorability of the measuring instrument. Correlation analysis was conducted to determine the relation between the variables that formulated the human capital development model. Eight of the ten analysis showed that there was a relationship between the variables. The Pearsons Chi-Square test showed a significant correlation for the hypothesis that tested the variables of the study. One of the recommendations suggested is for top management to buy-in to performance management so that their leadership can encourage supervisors to commit to the process. Effective feedback, training, development, mentoring and coaching are recommended to improve the performance of administrative employee. Recommendations suggested the development of a succession planning and career advancement policy for the institution. The study concluded with suggestions for future research.

Human Capital development occupies a salient position in determining organization’s value creation and profitability. Organization faces the challenge of harnessing employee skill set for organizational growth and development. This paper intends to examine the influence of human capital development on employee productivity in Edo State Civil Service Commission. The method utilized in this study was the qualitative research. The data for the investigation adopted the cross-sectional survey with descriptive approach by interviewing five management staff of the Edo State Civil Service Commission. More so, secondary sources of data collection and the human capital theory were utilized as the framework of analysis. The research has shown that there is a correlation between human capital development and productivity. It was discovered that planned human capital development policies through trainings and workshops are imperative in achieving high level of morale and organizational stability. It therefore concluded that human capital development is a pre-requisite for organizational growth and development as projected by the human capital theory. The findings of the study further revealed the challenge of inadequate funding in fostering human capital development in the Commission, as the release of the fund does not match with the planned training schedule. Based on the challenges raised in the paper, this study recommends the continuous explicit and identification of training needs and well-structured training programme for the improvement of employee skill capacity.

Purpose: The study investigates the determinants of energy consumption in BRICS countries. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study is using panel data analysis methodology (fixed effects, FMOLS, pooled OLS, random effects) with panel data ranging from 1996 to 2018. Findings: Under fixed effects, financial development was found to have a significant positive influence on energy consumption in model 1 and a significant negative effect on energy consumption in model 3. Human capital development, financial development, the interaction between financial and human capital development and economic growth were all found to have had a significant positive influence on energy consumption across all the four models. FDI had a significant positive effect on energy consumption in model 1 and 2 whilst infrastructural development had a significant positive influence on energy consumption in model 1, 3 and 4. Under random effects, financial development influenced energy consumption in a significant positive manner in model 2 and 3. Both human capital development and the interaction term separately had a significant positive impact on energy consumption across all the four models whilst trade openness and infrastructural development’s influence on energy consumption was positive and significant in model 1 and 3. Yet economic growth and FDI were found to have had a significant positive influence on energy consumption in model 1 and 4. Under FMOLS, four variables which had a significant positive effect on energy consumption across all the four models include human capital development, the interaction term, economic growth and infrastructural development. Practical implications: BRICS countries are therefore urged to design and implement policies aimed at enhancing human capital development, the complementarity between financial and human capital development, economic growth, and infrastructural development in order to increase renewable and fossil fuel energy usage (energy usage that preserves the ecosystem and promotes sustainable growth). Originality value: It considers the fact that the relationship between energy consumption and its determinants is not of a linear nature (is non-linear).

The development of human capital is a plan which requires a priority as a foundation for a sustainable, virtuous and glorious civilization. Until today copious efforts for self-development have revolved around the physical, mental and emotional aspects. Education of the heart is apparently lacking in the human capital development process. The concept of Akinnah al-Qalb refers to the barrier that exists in developing the human heart. Hence, the exploration into this concept is essential to the development of virtuous human capital. Previous research has focused on the factors that contribute to human capital development; nonetheless, no attempt has been made to explore the aspects which hinder human capital development, with specific reference to the Quran. Hence, this paper aims to explore the Quranic verses that are correlated to the notion of Akinnah al-Qalb, their characteristics and the description of its features based on the opinions of various religious scholars. Qualitative method was virtuously engaged in this study by referring to the analyses made on Quranic verses by mufassirun that are linked to Akinnah al-Qalb concept. The findings of the present study have been able to explain the concept of Akinnah al-Qalb and describe its connection with the human heart and consequently its significance in human capital growth.

Africa is currently experiencing both financial and human development challenges. While several continents have advocated for financial development in order to acquire environmentally friendly machinery that produces less emissions and ensures long-term sustainability, Africa is still lagging behind the rest of the world. Similarly, Africa's human development has remained stagnant, posing a serious threat to climate change if not addressed. Building on the underpinnings of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis on the nexus between economic growth and environmental pollution, this study contributes to empirical research seeking to promote environmental sustainability as follows. First, it investigates the link between financial development, human capital development and climate change in East and Southern Africa. Second, six advanced panel techniques are used, and they include (1) cross-sectional dependency (CD) tests; (2) combined panel unit root tests; (3) combined panel cointegration tests; (4) panel VAR/VEC Granger causality tests; and (5) combined variance decomposition analysis based on Cholesky and generalised weights. Our finding shows that financial and human capital developments are important in reducing CO2 emissions and promoting environmental sustainability in East and Southern Africa.