There is scope for Governments to take more account of social capital in policy development, according to a Productivity Commission study. The study - Social Capital: Reviewing the Concept and its Policy Implications - reports evidence confirming that social capital generally brings economic as well as social benefits, while noting that it can sometimes have perverse effects. The Commission's review indicates that high levels of trust and social engagement can generate wide ranging benefits, such as reduced need for personal security and policing, improved workplace efficiency and lower costs of doing business.
Author:
Australian Productivity Commission
