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Happiness from social capital: An investigation from micro data in rural Thailand

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  • Pungpond Rukumnuaykit
  • Piriya Pholphirul

Abstract

Happiness is a mental or emotional state of wellbeing defined by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. This article aims to investigate the impacts of social capital on individual wellbeing using happiness level (0–10 = highest) as a measure of subjective wellbeing and analyzing micro-level data from rural Thailand. We find significant effects of the perception of individual’s social capital, while the effects of community-level social capital are found to have insignificant effects on happiness. Our findings confirm that living in a household or community in which other members are, on average, happy, would cause the person to be happy. The findings suggest that an individual’s subjective perceptions of social capital, especially trusting others and participating in community public meetings, are important indicators that affect happiness at the individual level.

Suggested Citation

  • Pungpond Rukumnuaykit & Piriya Pholphirul, 2016. "Happiness from social capital: An investigation from micro data in rural Thailand," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(4), pages 562-573, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:comdev:v:47:y:2016:i:4:p:562-573
    DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2016.1206584
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bruno Frey & Alois Stutzer, 2005. "Happiness Research: State and Prospects," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 63(2), pages 207-228.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kathleen Ford & Aree Jampaklay & Aphichat Chamratrithirong, 2022. "A Multilevel Longitudinal Study of Individual, Household and Village Factors Associated with Happiness Among Adults in the Southernmost Provinces of Thailand," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(3), pages 1459-1476, June.
    2. Lane, Tom, 2017. "How does happiness relate to economic behaviour? A review of the literature," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 62-78.

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