In the race for knowledge, is human capital the most essential element?

This paper challenges the notion that human capital is the most crucial factor in scientific advancement, a claim made by Clarivate Analytics. Analyzing data from Clarivate Analytics' 2018 database of highly cited researchers, the authors find significant biases related to language, gender, funding, and research facilities. The highly cited scholar profile is overwhelmingly male, predominantly from very highly developed English-speaking countries, and largely affiliated with institutions in those same countries. This skewed representation suggests that these factors, rather than solely human capital, significantly influence the prominence of researchers and the development of scientific knowledge. The authors advocate for search engine algorithm adjustments to increase the visibility of scholars from underrepresented groups, thereby enhancing the validity of scientific inquiry.

Laura Sinay, Rodney William Carter, Maria Cristina Fogliatti de Sinay