What’s behind the World Love Index? Analysis of Welfare Policies and Other Promoting and Hindering Factors at Global Level

This study explores the concept of social love within the framework of the World Love Index, focusing on the roles of welfare policies and other factors that promote or hinder social relationships. Despite notable advancements in theoretical and methodological approaches, the complexities of social love remain a challenge for sociological research. By utilizing secondary data from global surveys and international datasets, we developed two cross-national indices: the Citizens’ World Love Index and the Institutions’ World Love Index. These indices aim to operationalize social love, analyzing it among citizens and institutions across approximately ninety countries. The Citizens’ Index incorporates variables related to behaviors and attitudes that reflect social love, such as recent volunteering, participation in environmental and animal rights organizations, and the acceptance of diverse nationalities as neighbors. In contrast, the Institutions’ Index examines indicators of institutional behavior, including the protection of minority rights, the share of renewable energy in total consumption, and inclusive migration policies. Our analysis employs regression models to correlate these indices with various contextual factors, specifically focusing on how poverty levels and welfare policies influence the presence or absence of social love. This research not only contributes to a deeper understanding of social love but also underscores the vital role that socio-economic conditions and policy frameworks play in fostering inclusive social relations.