The Recoupling Dashboard: Solidarity Index

Fundamental human needs as dimensions of wellbeing

Since the success of homo sapiens is built largely on cooperation and niche construction, humans evolved cooperative motives to socialize, particularly in groups of limited size. They follow moral values of care, fairness, loyalty, authority and sanctity.

The Recoupling Index presents the Solidarity Index to cover the needs of humans as social creatures, living in societies that generate a sense of social belonging, social cohesion and social inclusion. Solidarity is interpreted as a public good, accruing to all members of the social group by contributing to, being affiliated with, esteemed by and supported by one’s social group. Furthermore, it concerns the idea of belonging within social groups, which may be nested within larger social groups and political institutions that pursue complementary ends.

Deriving wellbeing from contributing to social wellbeing and belonging to a social group

Following this logic, social solidarity has become a fundamental source of human wellbeing. Together with empowerment, the capacity to shape one’s own environment, the fulfillment of this need can be combined to ensure social prosperity.

For the Solidarity Index, represented in the Recoupling Dashboard, country performance is measured across three key components:

Giving behavior is an indicator for showing social solidarity through three giving behaviors: helpling a stranger, donating money and volunteering time.
Trust in other people is a measure based on the question: “Generally speaking would you say that most people can be trusted or that you need to be careful in dealing with people?”
Social support reflects the sense that one is supported and can count on family and friends. The Solidarity Index is measured by social support as the percentage of people who report that they have friends whom they can count on in times of trouble.

Solidarity Index Scores and Rankings 2007 to 2018

The Recoupling Dashboard analyzes data from 35 countries for the years 2007 to 2018. The results show that some countries have experienced a decline in solidarity score or remained unchanged, while the score has increased for others.

The six countries that experienced the highest drop in solidarity scores are Mexico, Czech Republic, United States, Hungary, Italy and the United Kingdom. The reasons for this drop, in terms of components of the Solidarity Index, differ between countries. The United States, for example, shows declining levels of trust and social support, whilst in Italy, the main driving factor of the country’s downturn in the Solidarity Index is the sharp decline in giving behavior.

In the following table, you can see the World Rankings for the Solidarity Index. For the years 2007 to 2018, the index shows which country was ranked in which position out of 35 countries based on its Solidarity Index score. The score is shown to the right of the country name. Move the table to the right to see the results of data analysis for subsequent years.

World Ranking per year	2018		2017		2016		2015		2014		2013		2012		2011		2010		2009		2008		2007
1	New Zealand	0,86	New Zealand	0,84	Denmark	0,85	New Zealand	0,86	Denmark	0,85	New Zealand	0,82	Denmark	0,86	Denmark	0,84	Denmark	0,83	Denmark	0,83	Denmark	0,83	Denmark	0,83
2	Denmark	0,85	Denmark	0,83	New Zealand	0,85	Norway	0,84	New Zealand	0,84	Denmark	0,82	Australia	0,82	Netherlands	0,81	Netherlands	0,82	Netherlands	0,82	Netherlands	0,81	New Zealand	0,80
3	Norway	0,85	Iceland	0,82	Norway	0,85	Iceland	0,83	Norway	0,84	Norway	0,82	New Zealand	0,81	New Zealand	0,81	New Zealand	0,82	New Zealand	0,81	New Zealand	0,81	Australia	0,80
4	Iceland	0,84	Australia	0,80	Iceland	0,84	Denmark	0,82	Iceland	0,83	Netherlands	0,81	Netherlands	0,81	Australia	0,80	Australia	0,80	Australia	0,79	Australia	0,79	Norway	0,79
5	Australia	0,83	Norway	0,80	Australia	0,82	Australia	0,81	Australia	0,79	Australia	0,79	Norway	0,80	Norway	0,78	Norway	0,78	Norway	0,78	Norway	0,78	Netherlands	0,77
6	Finland	0,78	Finland	0,78	Finland	0,81	Finland	0,79	Finland	0,78	Ireland	0,76	Ireland	0,78	Ireland	0,77	Switzerland	0,78	Switzerland	0,78	Switzerland	0,78	Switzerland	0,76
7	Ireland	0,76	Netherlands	0,74	Netherlands	0,75	Netherlands	0,78	Ireland	0,78	Iceland	0,76	Iceland	0,77	Iceland	0,77	Iceland	0,77	Iceland	0,77	Iceland	0,76	Iceland	0,76
8	Switzerland	0,75	Ireland	0,74	Sweden	0,75	Canada	0,77	Netherlands	0,77	Canada	0,76	Finland	0,76	Finland	0,75	Ireland	0,76	Ireland	0,76	Ireland	0,76	Canada	0,76
9	Netherlands	0,74	Canada	0,74	Switzerland	0,75	Ireland	0,75	Canada	0,76	Switzerland	0,75	Canada	0,76	Switzerland	0,73	Canada	0,75	Canada	0,74	Canada	0,74	Ireland	0,75
10	Sweden	0,73	Sweden	0,73	Canada	0,74	Sweden	0,74	Switzerland	0,73	Finland	0,74	Switzerland	0,74	Canada	0,73	Finland	0,72	Sweden	0,72	Sweden	0,71	United States	0,73
11	Canada	0,71	Switzerland	0,72	Ireland	0,74	Switzerland	0,72	United States	0,71	United States	0,71	United States	0,69	United States	0,71	Sweden	0,70	Finland	0,71	Finland	0,71	Finland	0,72
12	Germany	0,67	Germany	0,66	United States	0,69	United States	0,69	Sweden	0,70	Sweden	0,69	Sweden	0,68	United Kingdom	0,69	United States	0,69	United States	0,69	United States	0,70	Sweden	0,71
13	United Kingdom	0,67	United States	0,65	Germany	0,67	United Kingdom	0,68	United Kingdom	0,67	United Kingdom	0,69	United Kingdom	0,65	Sweden	0,68	United Kingdom	0,68	United Kingdom	0,68	United Kingdom	0,68	United Kingdom	0,70
14	United States	0,67	United Kingdom	0,64	United Kingdom	0,66	Germany	0,66	Austria	0,66	Austria	0,67	Austria	0,64	Austria	0,64	Austria	0,66	Austria	0,66	Austria	0,65	Austria	0,65
15	Austria	0,66	Austria	0,64	Austria	0,64	Austria	0,65	Germany	0,63	Germany	0,64	Germany	0,61	Germany	0,64	Germany	0,63	Germany	0,63	Germany	0,63	Germany	0,63
16	Spain	0,63	Spain	0,60	Belgium	0,61	Luxembourg	0,59	Belgium	0,56	Israel	0,61	Luxembourg	0,56	Israel	0,60	Luxembourg	0,61	Luxembourg	0,60	Luxembourg	0,60	Luxembourg	0,60
17	Belgium	0,60	Luxembourg	0,57	Luxembourg	0,57	Belgium	0,59	Israel	0,54	Luxembourg	0,57	Belgium	0,55	Luxembourg	0,58	Israel	0,56	Israel	0,56	Israel	0,56	Israel	0,57
18	Luxembourg	0,59	Belgium	0,56	Spain	0,57	Spain	0,58	Spain	0,54	Belgium	0,54	Israel	0,55	Belgium	0,55	Belgium	0,56	Belgium	0,55	Belgium	0,55	Belgium	0,55
19	Israel	0,56	South Africa	0,55	Israel	0,55	South Africa	0,51	Luxembourg	0,52	Italy	0,54	France	0,50	France	0,49	Italy	0,49	Italy	0,49	Spain	0,51	Italy	0,54
20	South Africa	0,56	Israel	0,55	South Africa	0,50	Italy	0,49	South Africa	0,49	Spain	0,51	Japan	0,48	Japan	0,48	France	0,47	Spain	0,49	Italy	0,49	Japan	0,48
21	China	0,52	China	0,48	Italy	0,47	Israel	0,47	China	0,47	Japan	0,48	Italy	0,47	Spain	0,46	Spain	0,46	France	0,47	France	0,47	Spain	0,47
22	Italy	0,49	Italy	0,47	Japan	0,45	Japan	0,46	Italy	0,46	France	0,47	Spain	0,47	China	0,45	Poland	0,46	Poland	0,46	Poland	0,47	France	0,46
23	France	0,45	France	0,45	France	0,44	France	0,45	Japan	0,46	China	0,44	Hungary	0,40	Poland	0,44	Czech Republic	0,46	Czech Republic	0,46	Czech Republic	0,46	Poland	0,43
24	Japan	0,43	Japan	0,45	China	0,44	China	0,43	France	0,41	Hungary	0,43	China	0,40	Italy	0,43	Japan	0,43	Japan	0,43	Japan	0,43	Czech Republic	0,43
25	Russian Federation	0,40	Poland	0,40	Poland	0,39	Poland	0,43	Czech Republic	0,38	Poland	0,41	Czech Republic	0,39	Czech Republic	0,42	Hungary	0,39	Hungary	0,39	Mexico	0,36	Hungary	0,40
26	Poland	0,39	Brazil	0,37	Russian Federation	0,39	Portugal	0,38	Hungary	0,37	South Africa	0,39	Poland	0,38	Hungary	0,39	China	0,38	Mexico	0,36	Hungary	0,36	Mexico	0,38
27	Portugal	0,37	Russian Federation	0,37	Brazil	0,38	Russian Federation	0,38	Russian Federation	0,37	Czech Republic	0,38	South Africa	0,38	Chile	0,36	Mexico	0,36	China	0,36	Brazil	0,36	Brazil	0,34
28	Czech Republic	0,37	Portugal	0,36	Czech Republic	0,38	Chile	0,37	Poland	0,37	Chile	0,37	Chile	0,36	Brazil	0,36	Brazil	0,35	Brazil	0,36	Russian Federation	0,35	Portugal	0,34
29	Hungary	0,34	Chile	0,35	Portugal	0,38	Czech Republic	0,36	Portugal	0,36	Portugal	0,34	Brazil	0,35	South Africa	0,34	South Africa	0,35	Russian Federation	0,35	China	0,35	China	0,33
30	Chile	0,33	Czech Republic	0,34	Chile	0,36	Hungary	0,33	Chile	0,34	Brazil	0,34	Russian Federation	0,31	Russian Federation	0,33	Russian Federation	0,34	Chile	0,34	Chile	0,34	Chile	0,33
31	Brazil	0,31	Hungary	0,33	Hungary	0,32	Brazil	0,33	Brazil	0,34	Russian Federation	0,32	Portugal	0,28	Portugal	0,29	Chile	0,34	South Africa	0,33	South Africa	0,32	Russian Federation	0,32
32	Turkey	0,27	Greece	0,28	Turkey	0,26	Turkey	0,26	Greece	0,26	India	0,22	Mexico	0,19	India	0,25	Portugal	0,29	Portugal	0,29	Portugal	0,29	South Africa	0,27
33	Greece	0,23	Turkey	0,27	Greece	0,25	Mexico	0,24	Turkey	0,25	Mexico	0,19	Greece	0,16	Mexico	0,23	Greece	0,23	Greece	0,23	Greece	0,23	Greece	0,22
34	Mexico	0,21	India	0,26	India	0,24	Greece	0,23	India	0,25	Greece	0,16	India	0,14	Greece	0,16	India	0,17	India	0,18	India	0,18	India	0,19
35	India	0,17	Mexico	0,22	Mexico	0,22	India	0,21	Mexico	0,23	Turkey	0,09	Turkey	0,07	Turkey	0,10	Turkey	0,09	Turkey	0,08	Turkey	0,07	Turkey	0,15

Data Sources
Data from external, international sources were used to take up the already established indexes of economic prosperity and environmental sustainability on the one hand, and to determine the indexes first presented with the Recoupling Dashboard on the other – The indexes of solidarity and empowerment are based on data exclusively provided.

World Giving Index (CAF)

This index relies on a simple averaging of three giving behaviors: Helping a stranger, Donating money, Volunteering time. Each country is given a percentage score and countries are ranked on the basis of these scores. The Index measures countries by proportion of population giving.

Trust (WVS/EVS)

Trust is based on the question: Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you need to be careful in dealing with people? Data comes from the World Values Survey and the European Values Survey.

Social Support (OECD)

Percentage of people who report that they have friends or relatives whom they can count on in times of trouble. Data comes from the Gallup World Poll and is extracted from OECD “How’s Life.”

Solidarity Index: G20 Countries (2010-2023)

The data for the Solidarity Index for G20 Countries (2010-2023) is sourced from the Gallup World Poll. Each country’s survey targets at least 1,000 residents aged 15 and older, with larger samples in more populous nations to achieve more precise estimates. Macroeconomic data, including GDP per capita growth and GDP per capita in constant 2015 US dollars, is sourced from the World Bank. GDP per capita growth reflects the annual percentage increase in GDP per capita, measured in constant local currency.

Definition

Solidarity: The set of psycho-social mechanisms that creates and maintains pro-social group-level functional organization

Components of the Solidarity Index:

The Solidarity Index is derived by calculating the arithmetic mean of Inward Solidarity and Outward Solidarity.

Inward Solidarity is measured by:

(1) Social support. This indicator refers to the share of people that report having friends or relatives whom they can count on to help in case of need. It is based on the survey question: “If you were in trouble, do you have relatives or friends you can count on to help you whenever you need them, or not?” The responses are “Yes” or “No”.

Outward Solidarity is measured by calculating the arithmetic mean of two components:

(1) Giving behaviour and (2) Minority rights (see details below). Both variables are scored on the same scale (between 0 and 1).

(1) Giving behaviour is determined by averaging the responses to three questions:

Helping a stranger: In the past month, have you helped a stranger or someone you didn’t know who needed help? The responses are “Yes” or “No”.
Donating money: In the past month, haye you donated money to a charity? The responses are “Yes” or “No”.
Volunteering time: In the past month, have you volunteered your time to an organization? The responses are “Yes” or “No”.

(2) Minority rights is calculated by averaging responses to three questions:

Racial Minorities: Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place to live for racial and ethnic minorities? The responses are either “Good place” or “Not a good place”.
Gay or Lesbian People: Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place to live for gay or lesbian people? The responses are either “Good place” or “Not a good place”.
Immigrants: Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place to live for immigrants from other countries? The responses are either “Good place” or “Not a good place”.