This research explores complex interplays between Human Development Index (HDI), economic development, and environmental sustainability in CIVETS countries (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa) during 1990-2029 in relation to multi-method research design. Findings of empirical analysis reveal significant cross-country differences; for instance, while Vietnam demonstrates sustainable development in relation to firm GDP growth and lower CO2 emissions, South Africa and Egypt face challenges in accelerating human development in relation to economic development within the SDG context, due to structural constraints. Correlation analysis tests non-linear relations between HDI and its traditional determinants and the lack of positive correlations between HDI and its components. This paper critiques traditional linear approaches to understanding the complex relationships between HDI and other variables, particularly when applied to developing nations, and proposes innovative methods, such as panel Quantile regression and Machine Learning techniques, as avenues for future research to enhance model performance beyond the benchmarks used in this study. The paper draws important conclusions regarding developing nations; for instance, when economies grow rapidly, they must invest proportionally in solar and wind energy, while in slow-growing economies, they must work towards health justice and tax justice to develop human justice. This paper presents an integrative approach to understanding the overall developments within CIVETS states.
Prof. Asist. Roza Süleymanoğlu (2026) studied this question.