"Social cohesion: does it matter for growth and develpment?" is part of the book Social Protection in Developing Countries: Reforming Systems, edited by Katja Bender, Markus Kaltenborn, and Christian Pfleiderer.

A cohesive society is both a mean and an end for economic growth and development. This chapter reviews and analyses the main transmission channels through which social cohesion fosters growth and development. Social cohesion is helpful in reducing transaction costs, and contributes to risk mitigation, human capital development and institutional strengthening. Moreover, social cohesion has a positive effect on economic and development outcomes by reinforcing policy effectiveness and accountability.

Providing universal access to social protection and health systems for all members of society, including the poor and vulnerable, is increasingly considered crucial to international development debates. As a whole, the book to explores from an interdisciplinary and global perspective the reforms of social protection systems introduced in recent years by many governments of low and middle-income countries.