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

18 Pages Posted: 20 Jul 2006 Last revised: 7 Oct 2022

See all articles by John F. Helliwell

John F. Helliwell

University of British Columbia (UBC) - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: December 2005

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.

Suggested Citation

Helliwell, John F., Well-Being, Social Capital and Public Policy: What's New? (December 2005). NBER Working Paper No. w11807, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=875683

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