Human development and health inequalities: a systematic review of the human development index in Ecuador and Latin America
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20262334Keywords:
Human Development Index (HDI), Latin America, Ecuador, state capacity, public policies, inequalityAbstract
Introduction: Human development in Latin America requires evidence that links the Human Development Index (HDI) with policy-relevant determinants; Ecuador is a critical case.
Objective. To map trends, methods, and policy links in HDI research (2010–2024) in Latin America, with a focused analysis of Ecuador. Methods: PRISMA-aligned systematic review of Web of Science and Scopus (Jan 1, 2010–Jun 29, 2024). Records were standardized in Python (pandas, bibtexparser), exported to CSV, and deduplicated by title–author (Web of Science priority). We removed 262 duplicates (10.9%: 4 WoS; 258 Scopus) and harmonized keywords. Bibliometric and science-mapping analyses used Biblioshiny and VOSviewer (co-authorship, co-occurrence, thematic evolution), and h-indices were computed from WoS/Scopus. Results: Three robust clusters emerged: (1) economic development and public policy, (2) economy–environmental sustainability, and (3) education–gender. Motor themes include health policy, economics, education, and gender; core themes include inequality and sustainability. Output is dominated by the United States, United Kingdom, and China; Latin America contributes modestly, with Brazil as the main outlier. Education consistently appears as the strongest driver of HDI; GDP per capita and remittances are salient economic determinants; governance quality/state capacity are positively associated with HDI; FDI benefits depend on absorptive capacity. For Ecuador, stable institutions and clean, investment-friendly contexts correlate with better performance. Conclusions: Evidence supports inclusive, sustainable, equity-oriented policies centered on education and effective governance, and strengthening Latin American research capacity to close regional knowledge gaps.
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