STATUS AND DYNAMICS OF HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT: INTER-COUNTRY COMPARISONS EU AND UKRAINE

Наталя Валентинівна Ушенко, Олександра Миколаївна Курочка

Abstract


Formulation of the problem. Conducting cross-country comparisons of human capital development dynamics enables the identification of country rankings based on the ratio of their components. Comparing the results obtained using different metrics enables the objectification of the state of human capital development in countries, based on the use of various indicator systems. The aim of this research is to conduct cross-country comparisons of human capital development in order to identify its priority areas for Ukraine's post-war economic recovery. The objective of the research is to examine qualitative parameters of human capital in a cross-country comparison. The subject of the study is the theoretical and methodological foundations for measuring the quality of human capital and the areas of state regulation that should contribute to socio-economic development in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. The methods of the research: abstract-logical, graphical, comparative analysis, statistical, and generalisation. The research hypothesis was that cross-country comparisons in conditions of openness of global economic subsystems objectify the measurement of qualitative parameters of human capital development, the state of which is an important factor in Ukraine's post-war recovery. The statement of basic materials. The peculiarities of the interpretation of the concept of ‘human capital’ by leading international institutions and the peculiarities of the methodological principles of its measurement are revealed. The analysis showed that Ukraine maintained a ‘High HDI’ in the 2nd group of the inter-country ranking in the period 2020-2023, which is ensured by its 87th position in the ‘High HDI’ in the Human Development Index (HDI) 2023 ranking system (75-124 ranking places); 53rd place in the ‘High HDI’ category in the 2020 Human Capital Index ranking system (28-73 ranking places); 63rd place in the ‘High HDI’ category in the 2024 SPI (AITI Global Social Progress Index) ranking system (31st-70th place). A comparative analysis was carried out of the structure of the main indicators of the population's life, indicators of the population's education, the impact of the distribution of GNI in Germany, France (positions 5 and 26 in the ‘Highest Group’ of the HDI in the world) and Ukraine (position 87 in the ‘High Group’ of the HDI). This demonstrated the feasibility of adapting foreign experiences on ways to ensure sustainable human capital development in the European Union. The difference between the indicators of EU countries and Ukraine is a development program based on the components of the Human Development Index for Ukraine. Priority areas for human capital development in the context of Ukraine's post-war recovery have been identified.  The originality and practical significance of the research are determined by the use of metrics for measuring the quality of human capital based on its structural and functional analysis, which makes it possible to rank countries according to the level and/or potential of human capital development. Comparing the methodological approaches used enables the conduct of accurate cross-country comparisons that objectively assess the level of human capital development. These comparisons can be utilized by various stakeholder groups to inform decisions on planning human capital development in countries and companies. Conclusions and perspectives of further research. To effectively overcome post-war challenges in the development of Ukraine's human capital, it is advisable to focus on priority areas, including the reintegration of internally displaced persons in Ukraine and external migrants who have left Ukraine since 2022; the implementation of state programmes to provide educational support; state promotion of the digital economy and attraction of investment in human capital; the development of state programmes to support the rehabilitation of persons with military injuries into civilian life; financial support for human capital development through educational reforms, medical rehabilitation and economic growth. Prospects for further research include macro-oriented behavioral manifestations of the human factor in crisis conditions, which will enable the identification of behavioral tools to guide the country's sustainable socio-economic development during post-war recovery.

Keywords


human development, human potential, human capital, global dimension, cross-country comparisons, health care, education, migration, mobility, convergence of human гcapital, global economy

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32620/cher.2025.4.14

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