Exploring the influence of high-technology and environmental factors on human development index: a longitudinal investigation

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a commonly used measure that covers multiple dimensions of human well-being, including health, knowledge, and standard of living. However, the influence of some factors such as high-technology and environmental characteristics on the HDI has not been widely studied by researchers. This article examines the effects of novel factors on the HDI, based on a sample of 27 European countries across 14 years (from 2007 to 2020), and modeled by using fixed effect panel regression analyses. The findings of the present work reveal statistically positive significant effects of high-technology exports, the number of researchers in R&D, international trade, the percentage of employed people in upper secondary, post-secondary, and tertiary education, and the negative effect of the taxes on international trade on the HDI. Furthermore, the results also show a significant positive influence of renewable energy usage, access to clean water, and forest areas on the HDI. By identifying the importance of these factors and linking them to human development strategies, policymakers and stakeholders can work towards achieving sustainable development goals, resulting in improving the well-being of individuals and communities altogether.