Well-Being, Social Capital and Public Policy: What's New?

John Helliwell

No 11807, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper summarizes recent empirical research on the determinants of subjective well-being. Results from national and international samples suggest that measures of social capital, including especially the corollary measures of specific and general trust, have substantial effects on well-being beyond those flowing through economic channels. Cross-national samples (supported by parallel analysis of suicide data) show large well-being effects from social capital and from the quality of government. Finally, Canadian life-satisfaction data show that several non-financial job characteristics, and especially the climate of workplace trust, have very large income-equivalent effects.

JEL-codes: I31 P52 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ltv and nep-soc
Note: LS
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

Published as Helliwell, John F. "Well-Being, Social Capital And Public Policy: What's New?," Economic Journal, 2006, v116(510,Mar), C34-C45.

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