The role of social trust in reducing long-term truancy and forming human capital in Japan

Yamamura, Eiji (2010): The role of social trust in reducing long-term truancy and forming human capital in Japan.

Abstract

This paper attempts to examine how social trust influences human capital formation using prefectural level data in Japan. To this end, I constructed a proxy for social trust, based on the Japanese General Social Surveys. After controlling for socioeconomic factors, I found that social trust plays an important role in reducing the rate of long-term truancy in primary and junior high school. Results suggest that social trust improves educational quality.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: human capital, educational economics, economic impact
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I21 - Analysis of Education; Z - Other Special Topics > Z1 - Cultural Economics ; Economic Sociology ; Economic Anthropology > Z13 - Economic Sociology ; Economic Anthropology ; Social and Economic Stratification

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