Human Capital Dynamics: A Catalyst for Bank Profitability in Emerging Markets – A Case Study of Serbia

Abstract

Human capital emerges as a crucial determinant of banks' profitability, particularly in the context of developing economies. Through strategic investments in the specific skills and competencies of employees, banks cultivate a distinct body of tacit knowledge exclusive to their workforce. This tacit knowledge contributes to long-term profitability and establishes a sustainable competitive advantage. This paper aims to investigate the impact of human capital on bank profitability within the dynamics of a developing economy. The research focuses on the banking sector of the Republic of Serbia, covering the time span from 2020 to 2023. The independent variable in this study is human capital, assessed using the VAIC methodology and operationalized through the Human Capital Efficiency (HCE) coefficient. Meanwhile, bank profitability serves as the dependent variable and is operationalized through Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Net Profit Margin (NPM). The research employs descriptive statistics, normality tests, as well as correlation and regression analyses. The findings demonstrate a statistically significant and positive correlation between human capital and ROA, ROE, and NPM, validating all research hypotheses. This substantiates the assertion that investing in the human capital of bank employees is synonymous with investing in the institution's most crucial asset, ensuring sustained profitability and a competitive advantage. Furthermore, such investments facilitate increased productivity among employees, fostering optimal resource utilization, continuous learning, the development of new knowledge, and effective resolution of complex problems. The significance of this research lies in its comprehensive elucidation of the importance and role of human capital, as a component of intellectual capital, in shaping bank profitability. Future studies could enhance this understanding by incorporating data on human capital and bank profitability from other developed economies, enabling a comparative analysis to glean insights for further improving human capital strategies. Additionally, an extension of the analysis to encompass a more extended time frame and the utilization of advanced statistical techniques like Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and panel regression would contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the relationship.