A Study on Social Trust and GDP (Hypothetical Thought Experiment)

Social trust is the part of the glue that keeps society working together, ensuring institutional health, exchanging information, engaging in commerce, and all types of other behaviors that lead to thriving community resilience. While many economists have a hard time evaluating such person-to-person trust it is an essential bedrock of how people interact and relate to each other to successful navigation a wider environment (We can discuss micro transactions at a later date but just for now keep in the back of your head why communities form and around what purposes).

We have been exploring an interesting hypothetical philosophical theoretical thought experiment for pontification and to learn about the fundamentals of good societal health. In this example, the general members of a community developed social trust from ongoing prosocial behaviors and shared commitment to building a brighter future. People were inclusive and cared about each other's well-being (You can see that in how they donate to community members who suffered from a calamity, how they volunteer to support institutions, how they do nice things for each other, so on and so forth.)

The good works of the community were in contrast to the Clan who were involved in all types of bad behaviors that were self-seeking and put people intentionally in harm's way (i.e. alleged rape of an underage girl, exploiting a child who needed help to extort money from parents, manipulating the elderly, threats, religious cleansing, mistreating veterans, false rumors, and much more.). As red flags went up everywhere it appeared no one came to help the community and they were on their own (Some of the harm can never be undone and there was no reflective pause before willfully ruining people's lives. Sociopaths would blush.)

A fed-up community over blatant foot dragging and unfair protections began an informal campaign of mass reporting of corrupted behaviors to various agencies at different levels. Remember, that other crimes were reported but were often quickly retaliated against and victims concerns dismissed at times. Some went out of their to encourage, brag about, and financial reward misdeeds. No longer could the false narratives and undeserved immunities shield perpetrators from behaviors that would not be acceptable in any society.

 A positive community identity formed that cannot come from any other place then overcoming a challenge (theoretically). The People/We the People began to undo in/out group misleading barriers put in place by more exploitive members (Divide and conquer was their goal). The community voted their conscious and removed poor actors. Patriotic officials and citizens worked informally hand in hand to protect what they deeply believed in, what their parents, grandparents, and forefathers/mothers sacrificed to protect (Many unsung heroes of democratic health).

 With each prosocial act, tomorrow got brighter......

In this example there are 5 stages that ranged from default to community resilience. We also may see a sixth stage form that includes not only restoring trust but also perhaps raising it to a new level unseen in a community’s history (Give people a sense of belonging, a purpose and a path and they can do wonderful things.). When people work together in a way where they can see the results of their efforts, be that economic growth, better schools, cleaner streets, a new project, quality of life improvements, etc., they will feel connected and optimistic. Shared optimism has real value on a root person to person level (Research on optimism, productivity, and innovation.).

We should consider how social trust and institutional trust have a profound impact on our environment. Social Trust and GDP Study

“Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at last." George Washington

*This is a hypothetical, philosophical, theoretical thought experiment for learning purposes that explores numerous topics that include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, Constitution, social contracts, essential universal values, democracy, voting, etc. It is meant as a type of discussion and it is ok to agree or disagree.