The develo nent of an improved human capital for assessing and forecasting mational der capacity and development Human capral theory is accepted an one of the foundational theories or socioeconomic Although, according to founding scholars. atud abilities that help individuals and groups be any acquired qualities economically productive can be considered as individual or group capital, the classical human capital hum model focuses on schooling and training major factors comprising titintan capital on individual, group, and as the u els Consequently, eument fruman capital measurer t tools generali assess only edu Because orthis overly simplified presenr in which himan capital is commonly measured by approach. (bo manner national and international entities creates dim inaccurately assessing the strenyths and woa capital within and between countries A major challenge to improvement of human capital variables is identification and availability ordata The factors su to have significant impact on human capital are mostly intangible. Collecting such datu cost prohibitive for many developing countries. Consequently, national poley makers, multinational corporations and intermational aid organizations use simplificd estimates of human capitil Tho purpose is dissertation is to constrict and validate a more comprehensive human capital inde Study research questions include: (l) What are the significant luctors that amoct national human capital as revealed in the literature? (2) Can an expanded meusure national human capital be developed to reflect adequate content IC identified in litetature? o) What is the preliminary evidence supporting the validity of the newly eloped human capital index This aralysis resulted in the formation of a new human capital index. whic is expanded due to the incorporation or mew variables together with the routinely used education measures The sample panel data is from 163 countries for the years 2000-2005. Literature content analysis, fuctor analysis and regression analyses are used to support the exploration of the research questions. The results of th nalyses suggest that a human capital model which includes additional variables together with currently used education variables, predicti the level of national economic development significantly better than the model which includes only education measures. These results have implications for human resource development, corporate human capital management national education, and international aid policies. Verkhof wand o (2008) The lopment of all improved human capital index for assessing and forecasting tional capacity and development Dissertation abstiacts International, 71(95), osol c (uMI No 381580)