A panel data analysis of social cohesion and human development causality

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Δημοσιευμένα: Jan 21, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/scad.44247
Arsene Honore Gideon Nkama
The University of Yaounde 2, Cameroon
Περίληψη

The literature on human development is mostly centered on human development core dimensions: health, education and living standard. Studies centered on non-core dimensions such as human rights, participation, and social dimensions are relatively less abundant compared to the formers. With regard to non-core dimensions, few cases consider the relationship between social cohesion and human development. For the few cases considering such aspect, none assesses the bidirectional relationship between the two concepts. This paper uses a panel data approach to investigate the relationship between social cohesion and human development in 61 countries all over the world. Two indices are used for this end: the Human Development Index (HDI) of the Human Development Report Office and an index of social cohesion from the Institute of Development Studies’ database for the period 1990 to 2010. The main findings suggest that in the long run there is a positive and significant bidirectional relationship between social cohesion and human development. No relationship is found in the short run. The study recommends investment in social cohesion to build human
development.

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Βιογραφικό Συγγραφέα
Arsene Honore Gideon Nkama, The University of Yaounde 2, Cameroon

Arsene Honore Gideon Nkama is Associate Professor in The University of Yaounde 2, Cameroon. He teaches Microeconomics and transport economics (Post graduate level) and Industrial economics (undergraduate level). He has worked for UNDP and World Bank (E-mail: ahgnkama@ yahoo.com)

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