Extended Taxonomy and Three-dimensional Integral Model of Individual Human Capital

Selman Deliibramov
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Selman Deliibramov: University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria

Ikonomiceski i Sotsialni Alternativi, 2026, issue 2, 84-115

Abstract: The contemporary knowledge economy requires a fundamental rethinking of traditional human capital theory. This study proposes a radical expansion of the concept by identifying and systematizing over thirty new discrete elements that influence individual and organizational productivity. Through a critical review of existing models (OECD, World Bank HCI, Kirkpatrick), the paper demonstrates the limitations of classical approaches in capturing non-cognitive, dynamic, and value-based dimensions of human capital. The central contribution is the development of a Three-Dimensional Integrated Model, which organizes the discrete elements along three interdependent axes: Foundation (Stability and ethical integrity), Dynamics (Growth and self-renewal), and Performance (Contextual realization and adaptation). The model treats human capital not as a static stock but as a dynamic, multiplicative portfolio in which “soft†attributes – such as selfregulation, moral-ethical qualities, psychological resilience, and the capacity for unlearning – serve as critical infrastructure that determines the long-term viability and returns of technical skills. The study introduces innovative conceptual elements, including the capacity for unlearning, belief in fictions, and ambivalent traits (e.g., professional skepticism, perfectionism, and arrogance) as contextual modulators with variable economic value. It further identifies four critical capacity configurations and provides strategic implications for talent selection, development, and allocation based on configurational fit between individual profiles and organizational roles.

Keywords: human capital; three-dimensional model; self-regulation; cognitive flexibility; unlearning; ambivalent traits; value dimension; talent management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D91 M12 O15 O31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nwe:iisabg:y:2026:i:2:p:84-115

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