Non-cognitive components concept of human capital in modern economic and sociological literature

About the authors:

Roman R. Khuziakhmetov, Junior Researcher of the Research Center, Institute of Finance and Economics, University of Tyumen; r_o_m_a_n_14@mail.ru; ORCID: 0000-0003-0850-4716

Vladimir A. Davydenko, Dr. Sci. (Soc.), Professor, Head of the Research Center, University of Tyumen; v.a.davydenko@utmn.ru; ORCID: 0000-0001-8389-4254

Abstract:

Recognizing the importance of personality traits since the middle of the last century, economic and sociological science was forced to leave them “outside the brackets”, due to the lack of effective methods of measurement. In the modern economy, the role of “soft forms” of capital is becoming so obvious that research in this area is actualized. Technological development is transforming the labor market, and the number of jobs associated with monotonous and uncreative activities is decreasing. There is a growing need for workers with advanced cognitive and non-cognitive characteristics: able to combine professional expertise and the ability to effectively communicate with colleagues and clients.

The purpose of the article is to analyze the theories prevailing in world science on individual non-cognitive characteristics in order to determine the possibilities of expanding the interpretation of human capital accepted in Russian science. The methodological approach of this study includes a systematic review of the scientific literature. Special attention is paid to the search for empirical indicators.

The review shows that in the economic and sociological literature the concept of “non-cognitive” is associated with non-objective and non-specific human activity, that is, with his universal and transferable competence. Non-cognitive characteristics are associated with skills, abilities, personality traits, attitudes, preferences that affect individual performance and interpersonal interaction. At the same time, the border between the non-cognitive various components of human capital in the Russian literature is not drawn accurately. The authors contribute to solving this problem.

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