Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/214450 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
CREMA Working Paper No. 2009-23
Publisher: 
Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA), Basel
Abstract: 
This paper analyzes the effectiveness of social capital in reducing the negative externalities associated with stress, as well as the physical and psychological indicators of stress among police officers. Despite the fact that there is a large multidisciplinary literature on stress or on social capital, the link between both factors is still underexplored. In this empirical paper we therefore aim at reducing such a shortcoming. We focus on a strategically important work environment, namely law enforcement agents, that is not only characterized as physically and emotionally demanding, but also as an essential part for a well-functioning society due to the fact that inefficiencies in the police force can induce large negative externalities. Using a multivariate regression analysis focusing on nine different proxies for stress and two proxies for social capital and conducting several robustness checks, we find strong evidence that an increased level of social capital is correlated with a lower level of stress. From a policy perspective, our findings suggest that stress reduction programs should actively engage employees to build stronger social networks.
Subjects: 
social capital
trust
stress
police officers
JEL: 
I1
I31
J24
J81
Z13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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