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Measuring and validating social cohesion: a bottom-up approach

Author

Listed:
  • ACKET Sylvain
  • BORSENBERGER Monique
  • DICKES Paul
  • SARRACINO Francesco

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide a synthetic macro index of social cohesion based on the observation of several individual level variables. Based on the definition of social cohesion by Bernard (1999) and Chan et al. (2006) an index of social cohesion (henceforth VALCOS Index) was created. It covers the political and sociocultural domains of life in their formal and substantial relations. Results suggest that the VALCOS-Index of social cohesion is strongly and significantly correlated with other macro indicators largely used by the scientific community. The aggregation of EVS 2008 data on social cohesion together with many macro indicators of several dimensions of social life (including economic, socio-demographic, health and subjective well-being indicators) allowed us to rank social cohesion across 39 European countries and to explore differences across groups of countries. Subsequently, we validated our index by correlating it with many national level variables.

Suggested Citation

  • ACKET Sylvain & BORSENBERGER Monique & DICKES Paul & SARRACINO Francesco, 2011. "Measuring and validating social cohesion: a bottom-up approach," LISER Working Paper Series 2011-08, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    • Handle: RePEc:irs:cepswp:2011-08
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    Cited by:

    1. Diego Zavaleta & Kim Samuel & China T. Mills, 2017. "Measures of Social Isolation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 131(1), pages 367-391, March.
    2. Sung-Geun Kim, 2023. "What can we talk about social cohesion in Korea? An item response theory approach," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 2409-2427, June.
    3. Caleiro, António, 2018. "On how can higher education institutions contribute, or not, to the success, or not, of public policies of social cohesion," MPRA Paper 89804, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Gaël Giraud & Cécile Renouard & Hélène L'Huillier & Raphaële de La Martinière & Camille Sutter, 2012. "Relational Capability: A Multidimensional Approach," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00827690, HAL.
    5. Fiedler, Charlotte & Rohles, Christopher, 2021. "Social cohesion after armed conflict: A literature review," IDOS Discussion Papers 7/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    6. Leininger, Julia & Burchi, Francesco & Fiedler, Charlotte & Mross, Karina & Nowack, Daniel & von Schiller, Armin & Sommer, Christoph & Strupat, Christoph & Ziaja, Sebastian, 2021. "Social cohesion: A new definition and a proposal for its measurement in Africa," IDOS Discussion Papers 31/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), revised 2021.
    7. Carlo Klein, 2013. "Social Capital or Social Cohesion: What Matters For Subjective Well-Being?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 110(3), pages 891-911, February.
    8. Úrsula Faura-Martínez & Matilde Lafuente-Lechuga & Olga García-Luque, 2020. "Social and Territorial Cohesion in Spain: Relevance of the Socioeconomic Context," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 150(2), pages 501-547, July.
    9. KLEIN Carlo, 2012. "La cohésion sociale : un effet externe de l'investissement éducatif ?," LISER Working Paper Series 2012-39, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    10. Andréasson, Hannes & Elert, Niklas & Karlson, Nils, 2013. "Does Social Cohesion Really Promote Reforms?," Ratio Working Papers 211, The Ratio Institute.
    11. Peter Huber & Thomas Leoni & Hans Pitlik, 2013. "Reforming Welfare States. WWWforEurope Deliverable No. 1," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 47022, February.
    12. KLEIN Carlo, 2011. "Social capital or social cohesion: what matters for subjective well-being (SWB)?," LISER Working Paper Series 2011-36, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    13. Paul Dickes & Marie Valentova, 2013. "Construction, Validation and Application of the Measurement of Social Cohesion in 47 European Countries and Regions," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 113(3), pages 827-846, September.
    14. Diego Zavaleta & Kim Samuel & China Mills, 2014. "Social Isolation: A conceptual and Measurement Proposal," OPHI Working Papers 67, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    15. David Schiefer & Jolanda Noll, 2017. "The Essentials of Social Cohesion: A Literature Review," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 579-603, June.
    16. Hannes Andréasson & Niklas Elert & Nils Karlson, 2013. "Does Social Cohesion Really Promote Reforms? WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 33," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 46919, February.
    17. Snower, Dennis J., 2019. "Toward global paradigm change: Beyond the crisis of the liberal world order," Economics Discussion Papers 2019-6, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    18. Christoph Strupat, 2022. "Social Protection and Social Cohesion in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(3), pages 1320-1357, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    social cohesion; methodology; macro index; micro index; EVS;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A10 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - General
    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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