IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/pra/mprapa/116263.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Greening the Workforce: The Power of Investing in Human Capital

Author

Listed:
  • Aqib, Muhammad
  • Zaman, Khalid

Abstract

Experts are interested in creating human capital's role in boosting economic growth. Some research has been done on using human capital to help lessen carbon emissions in developing countries, but more needs to be done. So, the study looked at how developing human capital can make a country more prosperous by making the environment more sustainable through labour-added technology. The study analyzed data from Pakistan from the years 1975 to 2020 and employed robust least squares regression, Granger causality, and innovation accounting matrix methods to estimate parameters. According to the robust least squares regression results, lowering carbon emissions and increasing human capital may be achieved by investing more in environmentally friendly research and development. However, a green development strategy will never materialize since the federal government needs to invest more money in education, healthcare, and improvements to the employment market. The Granger causality analysis confirmed that continued economic growth Granger causes carbon emissions on the one hand while causing increasing life expectancy and net enrolment rates on the other hand. R&D spending and labour-augmented technology Granger cause an increase in life expectancy by fostering the development of cleaner production methods, which in turn helps improve the long-term viability of healthcare in a nation. According to the innovation accounting matrix results, life expectancy and the net enrolment rate will be the essential human capital factors affecting carbon emissions over the next ten years. In addition to human capital, changes in the labour market, spending on research and development, and technology that helps people do their jobs also affect the green development agenda. Pakistan should spend more of its budget on human development through technical knowledge and research and development. This would help the country switch from fossil fuels to clean, green technologies and hybrid-energy efficient methods to reduce carbon emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Aqib, Muhammad & Zaman, Khalid, 2023. "Greening the Workforce: The Power of Investing in Human Capital," MPRA Paper 116263, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 05 Feb 2023.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:116263
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/116263/1/MPRA_paper_116263.pdf
    File Function: original version
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fiza Shaheen & Muhammad Saeed Lodhi & Joanna Rosak-Szyrocka & Khalid Zaman & Usama Awan & Muhammad Asif & Waqas Ahmed & Maria Siddique, 2022. "Cleaner Technology and Natural Resource Management: An Environmental Sustainability Perspective from China," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-23, June.
    2. Anand, Sudhir & Sen, Amartya, 2000. "Human Development and Economic Sustainability," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 2029-2049, December.
    3. Simplice A. Asongu, 2018. "CO2 emission thresholds for inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa," Research Africa Network Working Papers 18/023, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    4. Wang, Zhaohua & Bui, Quocviet & Zhang, Bin & Nawarathna, Chulan Lasantha K. & Mombeuil, Claudel, 2021. "The nexus between renewable energy consumption and human development in BRICS countries: The moderating role of public debt," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(P1), pages 381-390.
    5. Syed Abdul Rehman Khan & Danish Iqbal Godil & Zhang Yu & Farwa Abbas & Muhammad Asif Shamim, 2022. "Adoption of renewable energy sources, low‐carbon initiatives, and advanced logistical infrastructure—an step toward integrated global progress," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(1), pages 275-288, February.
    6. Gary S. Becker, 1994. "Human Capital Revisited," NBER Chapters, in: Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis with Special Reference to Education, Third Edition, pages 15-28, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Mahmood, Haider & Tanveer, Muhamamd & Ahmad, Abdul-Rahim & Furqan, Maham, 2021. "Rule of Law and Control of Corruption in Managing CO2 Emissions Issue in Pakistan," MPRA Paper 109250, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Mani,Muthukumara S. & Gopalakrishnan,Badri Narayanan & Wadhwa,Deepika, 2020. "Regional Integration in South Asia : Implications for Green Growth, Female Labor Force Participation, and the Gender Wage Gap," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9119, The World Bank.
    9. Hsu, Ching-Chi & Ngo, Quang-Thanh & Chien, FengSheng & Li, Li & Mohsin, Muhammad, 2021. "Evaluating green innovation and performance of financial development: mediating concerns of environmental regulation," MPRA Paper 109671, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Serap Bedir & Vildan Merve Yilmaz, 2016. "CO2 emissions and human development in OECD countries: granger causality analysis with a panel data approach," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 6(1), pages 97-110, April.
    11. Evelyn Nwamaka OGBEIDE-OSARETIN & Bright ORHEWERE, 2022. "An Empirical Evidence of Energy Consumption and Economic Development Dynamics in Nigeria: What is the Role of Population?," Energy Economics Letters, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 9(1), pages 27-43.
    12. Simplice Asongu & Joseph Nnanna, 2020. "Inclusive human development in sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(2), pages 183-200, May.
    13. Abbasi, Kashif Raza & Hussain, Khadim & Haddad, Akram Masoud & Salman, Asma & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2022. "The role of Financial Development and Technological Innovation towards Sustainable Development in Pakistan: Fresh insights from consumption and territory-based emissions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    14. Jules Pretty & Tim G. Benton & Zareen Pervez Bharucha & Lynn V. Dicks & Cornelia Butler Flora & H. Charles J. Godfray & Dave Goulson & Sue Hartley & Nic Lampkin & Carol Morris & Gary Pierzynski & P. V, 2018. "Global assessment of agricultural system redesign for sustainable intensification," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(8), pages 441-446, August.
    15. Janine De Fence & Nick Hanley & Karen Turner, 2009. "Do Productivity Improvements Move Us Along the Environmental Kuznets Curve?," Working Papers 0908, University of Strathclyde Business School, Department of Economics.
    16. Gary S. Becker, 1994. "Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis with Special Reference to Education, Third Edition," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number beck94-1.
    17. Smulders, Sjak & de Nooij, Michiel, 2003. "The impact of energy conservation on technology and economic growth," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 59-79, February.
    18. Balaguer, Jacint & Cantavella, Manuel, 2018. "The role of education in the Environmental Kuznets Curve. Evidence from Australian data," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 289-296.
    19. Minhas Akbar & Ammar Hussain & Ahsan Akbar & Irfan Ullah, 2021. "The dynamic association between healthcare spending, CO2 emissions, and human development index in OECD countries: evidence from panel VAR model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 10470-10489, July.
    20. Zeb, Raheel & Salar, Laleena & Awan, Usama & Zaman, Khalid & Shahbaz, Muhammad, 2014. "Causal links between renewable energy, environmental degradation and economic growth in selected SAARC countries: Progress towards green economy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 123-132.
    21. Du, Kerui & Cheng, Yuanyuan & Yao, Xin, 2021. "Environmental regulation, green technology innovation, and industrial structure upgrading: The road to the green transformation of Chinese cities," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    22. Khalid Zaman & Muhammad Khalid Anser & Usama Awan & Wiwik Handayani & Hailan Salamun & Abdul Rashid Abdul Aziz & Mohd Khata Jabor & Kamalularifin Subari, 2022. "Transportation-Induced Carbon Emissions Jeopardize Healthcare Logistics Sustainability: Toward a Healthier Today and a Better Tomorrow," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-17, April.
    23. Schultz, Theodore W., 1989. "Investing in people: Schooling in low income countries," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 219-223, June.
    24. Gulzari, Adeela & Wang, Yuchen & Prybutok, Victor, 2022. "A green experience with eco-friendly cars: A young consumer electric vehicle rental behavioral model," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    25. Saqib Amin & Nawaz Ahmad & Asim Iqbal & Ghulam Mustafa, 2021. "Asymmetric analysis of environment, ethnic diversity, and international trade nexus: empirical evidence from Pakistan," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 12527-12549, August.
    26. Haroon ur Rashid Khan & Usama Awan & Khalid Zaman & Abdelmohsen A. Nassani & Mohamed Haffar & Muhammad Moinuddin Qazi Abro, 2021. "Assessing Hybrid Solar-Wind Potential for Industrial Decarbonization Strategies: Global Shift to Green Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-14, November.
    27. Ma, Qiang & Tariq, Muhammad & Mahmood, Haider & Khan, Zeeshan, 2022. "The nexus between digital economy and carbon dioxide emissions in China: The moderating role of investments in research and development," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    28. Asif Raihan & Rawshan Ara Begum & Mohd Nizam Mohd Said & Joy Jacqueline Pereira, 2022. "Relationship between economic growth, renewable energy use, technological innovation, and carbon emission toward achieving Malaysia’s Paris agreement," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 586-607, December.
    29. Bucci, Alberto, 2008. "Population growth in a model of economic growth with human capital accumulation and horizontal R&D," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 1124-1147, September.
    30. Ahsan Anwar & Avik Sinha & Arshian Sharif & Muhammad Siddique & Shoaib Irshad & Waseem Anwar & Summaira Malik, 2022. "The nexus between urbanization, renewable energy consumption, financial development, and CO2 emissions: evidence from selected Asian countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 6556-6576, May.
    31. Adekoya, Oluwasegun B. & Olabode, Joshua K. & Rafi, Syed K., 2021. "Renewable energy consumption, carbon emissions and human development: Empirical comparison of the trajectories of world regions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1836-1848.
    32. Anwar Khan & Yang Chenggang & Wang Xue Yi & Jamal Hussain & Liu Sicen & Sadia Bano, 2021. "Examining the pollution haven, and environmental kuznets hypothesis for ecological footprints: an econometric analysis of China, India, and Pakistan," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(3), pages 462-482, July.
    33. Muhammad Imran Qureshi & Usama Awan & Zeeshan Arshad & Amran Md. Rasli & Khalid Zaman & Faisal Khan, 2016. "Dynamic linkages among energy consumption, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and agricultural production in Pakistan: sustainable agriculture key to policy success," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 84(1), pages 367-381, October.
    34. Xi Lin & Yongle Zhao & Mahmood Ahmad & Zahoor Ahmed & Husam Rjoub & Tomiwa Sunday Adebayo, 2021. "Linking Innovative Human Capital, Economic Growth, and CO 2 Emissions: An Empirical Study Based on Chinese Provincial Panel Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-18, August.
    35. Wei, Taoyuan & Zhu, Qin & Glomsrød, Solveig, 2018. "How Will Demographic Characteristics of the Labor Force Matter for the Global Economy and Carbon Dioxide Emissions?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 197-207.
    36. Chien, Fengsheng & Ajaz, Tahseen & Andlib, Zubaria & Chau, Ka Yin & Ahmad, Paiman & Sharif, Arshian, 2021. "The role of technology innovation, renewable energy and globalization in reducing environmental degradation in Pakistan: A step towards sustainable environment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 308-317.
    37. Funda Hatice Sezgin & Yilmaz Bayar & Laura Herta & Marius Dan Gavriletea, 2021. "Do Environmental Stringency Policies and Human Development Reduce CO 2 Emissions? Evidence from G7 and BRICS Economies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-13, June.
    38. Nabila Abid & Jianzu Wu & Fayyaz Ahmad & Muhammad Umar Draz & Abbas Ali Chandio & Hui Xu, 2020. "Incorporating Environmental Pollution and Human Development in the Energy-Growth Nexus: A Novel Long Run Investigation for Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-22, July.
    39. Xavier Vence & Sugey de Jesus López Pérez, 2021. "Taxation for a Circular Economy: New Instruments, Reforms, and Architectural Changes in the Fiscal System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. John Holmberg & Johan Larsson, 2018. "A Sustainability Lighthouse—Supporting Transition Leadership and Conversations on Desirable Futures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-25, October.
    2. Opoku, Eric Evans Osei & Dogah, Kingsley E. & Aluko, Olufemi Adewale, 2022. "The contribution of human development towards environmental sustainability," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    3. Abbasi, Kashif Raza & Hussain, Khadim & Haddad, Akram Masoud & Salman, Asma & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2022. "The role of Financial Development and Technological Innovation towards Sustainable Development in Pakistan: Fresh insights from consumption and territory-based emissions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    4. Suzanna Elmassah & Eslam A. Hassanein, 2022. "Can the Resource Curse for Well-Being Be Morphed into a Blessing? Investigating the Moderating Role of Environmental Quality, Governance, and Human Capital," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.
    5. Ran, Qiying & Yang, Xiaodong & Yan, Hongchuan & Xu, Yang & Cao, Jianhong, 2023. "Natural resource consumption and industrial green transformation: Does the digital economy matter?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    6. Sun, Yunpeng & Tian, Wenjuan & Mehmood, Usman & Zhang, Xiaoyu & Tariq, Salman, 2023. "How do natural resources, urbanization, and institutional quality meet with ecological footprints in the presence of income inequality and human capital in the next eleven countries?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    7. Asongu, Simplice A. & Adegboye, Alex & Ejemeyovwi, Jeremiah & Umukoro, Olaoluwa, 2021. "The mobile phone technology, gender inclusive education and public accountability in Sub-Saharan Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(4).
    8. Olatunji A. Shobande & Simplice A. Asongu, 2021. "Has Knowledge Improved Economic Growth? Evidence from Nigeria and South Africa," Working Papers 21/059, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    9. Geng, Yaxin & Rao, Pinyang & Sharif, Arshian, 2022. "Natural resource management and ecological sustainability: Dynamic role of social disparity and human development in G10 Economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    10. Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, 2018. "Social Sector Expenditure in India in the 2000s: Trends and Implications," Journal of Development Policy and Practice, , vol. 3(1), pages 16-40, January.
    11. Paula Koskinen Sandberg, 2021. "Wage politics and feminist solidarity," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 973-991, May.
    12. Yunyan Jiang & Feng Deng, 2022. "Multi-Dimensional Threshold Effects of the Digital Economy on Green Economic Growth?—New Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, October.
    13. Yang, Guanyi, 2018. "Endogenous Skills and Labor Income Inequality," MPRA Paper 89638, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Paul Verstraten, 2018. "The scope of the external return to higher education," CPB Discussion Paper 381.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    15. Simplice A. Asongu, 2021. "The Effects of Mobile Phone Technology, Knowledge Creation and Diffusion on Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(3), pages 1367-1398, September.
    16. David Jaume, 2018. "The Labor Market Effects of an Educational Expansion. A Theoretical Model with Applications to Brazil," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0220, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    17. Guo, Yuanyu & Xie, Wenlan & Yang, Yang, 2024. "Dual green innovation capability, environmental regulation intensity, and high-quality economic development in China: Can green and growth go together?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    18. Zhang, Chunhong & Khan, Irfan & Dagar, Vishal & Saeed, Asif & Zafar, Muhammad Wasif, 2022. "Environmental impact of information and communication technology: Unveiling the role of education in developing countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    19. Song, Yi & Hao, Yuqing, 2024. "Understanding the relationship between Fintech, Natural Resources, Green Finance, and Environmental Sustainability in China: A BARDL approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    20. Mine Yilmazer & Serkan inar, 2015. "Human Capabilities and Economic Growth: A Comparative Human Capability Index," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 5(4), pages 843-853.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Human development; Carbon emissions; Labor augmented technology; R&D expenditures; Pakistan.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:116263. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Joachim Winter (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/vfmunde.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.