Effect of social capital on the life satisfaction of paratransit drivers in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The three-wheeler, a Sri Lankan form of paratransit, is a popular and important mode of transport in Sri Lankan cities due to largely insufficient public transport systems. However, knowledge of the three-wheeler industry including the role of drivers' groups and the effect of these groups' social capital related factors on the driver's life satisfaction is scarcely available. Thus, the objectives of this study are to clarify the actual condition of the industry and to identify the social capital related factors that affect drivers' life satisfaction in three cities in Sri Lanka. To this end, extensive interviews were conducted and revealed that national and local governments do not control the numbers or management of three-wheeler drivers and vehicles, but they do receive rent for using public road space for parking. In order to determine the effect of social capital factors, including working conditions and societal trust levels, on three-wheeler drivers' life satisfaction, we developed an ordered logit model based on questionnaire surveys in three target cities. In addition, the differences among the cities examined regarding provincial policies for three-wheelers, the percentage of drivers who have other jobs, and relationships between drivers' societies were revealed. As a result of the analysis, we identified differences between drivers based in the three cities regarding the social capital and work-related variables that have the greatest impact on their life satisfaction. In particular, we found that drivers based in the city of Kandy emphasized general social capital variables over work conditions and salary, but the opposite was obtained for the cities of Colombo and Moratuwa.