The role of cognitive capital in driving the development and quality of national infrastructure

Previous cross-national examinations provide empirical evidence regarding the influence of cognitive capital on the macroeconomic development and stability of contemporary nations. Similarly, numerous biodemographic studies have substantiated the contribution of national wealth to the quality of infrastructure within countries. Despite these findings, minimal attention has been given to the role of cognitive capital in nations' infrastructure quality. This study investigated the influence of biodemographic life history, cognitive capital, wealth inequality, GDP per capita, the percentage of young males in the workforce, and a state functioning factor (comprising government effectiveness, innovation, and competitiveness) on nations' quality of infrastructure. A Sequential Canonical Cascade model accounted for 50 % of the variance, with a biodemographic slow life history factor positively predicting cognitive ability, which in turn, contributed to lower wealth inequality and greater GDP per capita at the national level. Macroeconomic development positively influenced the state functioning factor scores of nations. Ultimately, state functioning and national cognitive ability positively influenced the quality of infrastructure. An alternative model, controlling for the effects of the aforementioned macroeconomic factors, provided further evidence for the positive influence of state functioning and cognitive ability scores on infrastructure quality, explaining 62 % of the variance. •A state functioning factor loaded positively ontoinnovation, competitiveness, and effectiveness.•A biodemographic slow life history factor positively predicted nations’ cognitive capital.•Cognitive capital and state functioning positively predicted nations’ quality of infrastructure.•These results persisted above and beyond macroeconomic effects.