This report, written by Andy Haldane and Professor David Halpern, makes the case for a greater focus on social capital in policy and practice. It is the first in a series published by Demos in partnership with Local Trust and 3ni, called Social Capital 2025. The series examines social capital and the contribution that strengthening it makes to improving economic and social outcomes, including for children, improving health and wellbeing and reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.
In this series we make the case that strengthening social capital through concerted government action will ultimately fuel economic growth and community wellbeing and create a virtuous cycle. It builds on ideas we first presented in the paper The Preventative State.