The role of social capital in subjective quality of life

This paper investigates the role of social capital (SC) in subjective quality of life to address the limitations of existing observable indicators as evidence for public policy. We use a large-scale survey of 100,956 respondents across 37 countries, including both developed and less developed countries. The empirical results suggest that higher SC is more strongly associated with better subjective health and higher satisfaction in low-income countries than in high-income countries. Moreover, while low-income countries show a lower level of perceived economic inequality at the community level with higher SC, high-income countries present a higher level. We further find that higher levels of educational attainment increase the perception of economic inequality and that this impact decreases with SC. Enhancing SC may lead to improved quality of life in most low-income countries, and lifestyle and cultural factors also play a crucial role. These findings indicate that noneconomic factors underpin better lives, and further research is needed to address the social aspects of life.

Automated summary

This paper examines the impact of social capital (SC) on subjective quality of life to address the limitations of current observable indicators in informing public policy. The study analyzes a large-scale survey of 100,956 respondents from 37 countries, encompassing both developed and less developed nations. The empirical findings reveal that SC has a stronger association with improved subjective health and higher satisfaction in low-income countries compared to high-income countries. Additionally, low-income countries perceive lower levels of economic inequality at the community level when SC is higher, while high-income countries exhibit higher levels. The study also highlights the positive impact of higher levels of educational attainment on the perception of economic inequality, which decreases with SC. Enhancing SC may contribute to enhancing quality of life in most low-income countries, with lifestyle and cultural factors also playing a significant role. These findings emphasize the importance of non-economic factors in promoting better lives, necessitating further research into the social aspects of life.