Social Capital, Social Contracts, and Public Policy in the United States

Abstract

The underlying social framework in which we live seems to becoming less social. The connections we have between individuals, businesses, and government has become impersonal and distant. If this is a valid trend of society then our connection with our elected officials may be a lot less meaningful and may explain the outcomes of public policies that are now in existence.

It seems reasonable that enhancing our social capital will increase social welfare. If we, as society, are diminishing our store of social capital, then maybe, we should seek to better understand what this concept is and how it might affect our aggregate social welfare and its impact on economic justice.