Social capital and happiness among the Bhutanese youth: A case study of RTC

students in 2012

Tshering Wangdi (101038) Deki Yangzom (101036)tsheringwangdi806@gmail.com yangzomdeki28@gmail.com

Bhutanese economy-I (ECO 242) Economics and Environmental Studies

Second year (4th Semester)Royal Thimphu College

Ngabiphu, Thimphu

Faculty: Tanveer Reza RoufDate: 19/06/2013

IntroductionSocial capital:

Institution, relationship and shared norms Determines value

and extent of social relationship

HAPPINESSTrustCommunity participationParental education

How does access to social capital affect happiness of young Bhutanese in 2012?

Bhutan’s guiding development philosophy: GNH

Why research on social capital and happiness?OR

What motivated us?

Research on social capital and happiness in other countries (stated in literature review)

Did Bhutan conduct a research on social capital and happiness?

Research showed interesting facts and results (Showed positive relationship)

Wangchen & Phuenkhang (2012) has done research on social capital

Did not show the relationship between social capital and happiness

Literature review1. BLSS (2012): The level of trust is higher in

rural areas2.

Branch (2012) Rodríguez-Posel & Berlepsch (n.d.)

Positive correlation between social capital and happiness

Belief, safety, parental relationships and outlook towards others

Gender, trust, safety, social networks and norms

Data and methodologyVariables Coding

Independent variables

Gender 0= male, 1= female

Living situation 0= boarder, 1= day scholar

Raised in(Brought up place) 0= rural, 1= urban

Enrollment year 1= 1st year, 2=2nd year, 3=3rd year

Trust 1=strong disagree, 2= disagree, 3=satisfactorily agree, 4= agree, 5= strongly agree

Community participation -do-

Parental education -do-

Age

Dependent variable

Level of happiness 1=least satisfied, 2= Quite satisfied, 3=Average, 4= Satisfied, 5= Most satisfied

Results

Variables Average

Dependent variable

Level of happiness 3.57

Independent variables

Trust 3.60

Community participation 3.48

Gender 0.49

Enrolment year 1.87

Living situation 0.57

Raised in 0.74

Parents education 0.99

Age 21.03

Results

Variables Coefficient (p-value)

Trust 0.21** (0.056) Community participation 0.19 ** (0.07)

Gender -0.13 (0.48)Enrolment year -0.05 (0.63)

Living situation 0.05 (0.78)

Raised in 0.03 (0.88)

Parents education 0.23 ** (0.054)

Age 0.03 (0.23)

Significance f = 0.09Overall test= 10% level of significanceR square= 0.13 (13%)

Conclusion Finally, variables such as trust, community

participation and parental education has positive relationship with the level of happiness

College need to invest in these variablesCollege environment will improve (learning

environment)More people (students) will attractObviously, business will be profitable

THANK YOU!!!QUESTIONS ???