Abstract
Using several different samples, model specifications, and variable proxies, this study revisits the role of social capital in generating life satisfaction (happiness). The main outcome of the exercise is that the parameter for social capital (generalized trust) is extremely fragile, and most estimates show little significant role of social capital in generating happiness. Six additional points are noted. First, the role of income seems generally positive and significant. Second, there are marked parametric differences between high-income and low-income subgroups, but it is difficult to say whether social capital or income is more important in either group. Third, significance of income inequality and of inflation vary considerably across the models and the samples, but their association with happiness is generally weak. Fourth, two measures of happiness (life satisfaction) yield similar sets of estimates. Fifth, there is some indication that “transition” economies are marked by lower happiness while Latin American countries are generally happier. Last, a reasonable test indicates absence of any significant specification error and mitigates worries about possible endogeneities.
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Notes
Since the numbers are based on income for some countries and on consumption for others, following Deininger and Squire (1996, p. 582), Gini coefficients based on consumption have been adjusted upward by 6.6 for better comparability.
The countries are identified from codes in his Fig. 1 (Bjornskov, 2003, p. 7), but China could not be included due to lack of data on generalized trust and information for Iceland was incomplete. The sample is, however, very close to his.
There is no SSA or MENA country in the sample of Table 3.
Income levels are chosen so as to include about 50% or 25% of the sample countries in each subsample.
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Perceptive suggestions on earlier versions from six anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged. The usual disclaimer applies.
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Ram, R. Social Capital and Happiness: Additional Cross-Country Evidence. J Happiness Stud 11, 409–418 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9148-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9148-3