Exploring the relative influences of transport disadvantage and social exclusion on well-being

This paper explores the separate and combined effects of transport disadvantage and social exclusion on well-being using an empirical analysis of data from a travel and disadvantage survey in Victoria, Australia. Previous research explores the impact of transport on social exclusion but does not study the downstream impacts on well-being. To explore this relationship measures of subjective well-being are compared across four groups: (i) people who are neither transport disadvantaged nor socially excluded, (ii) transport disadvantaged only, (iii) socially excluded only and (iv) both transport disadvantaged and socially excluded. The paper explores which component aspects of social exclusion and transport disadvantage have the greatest impact on well-being and which social groups are most likely to face transport disadvantage and social exclusion together. The paper concludes with a commentary on how the findings might be used to better target policy interventions meant to improve well-being.

Research highlights
► Well-being declines incrementally for those with only transport disadvantage or only social exclusion and is lowest for those who experience both.
► Unemployment and lack of social support have the largest influence within social exclusion.
► Having to rely on others for transport has the greatest influence within transport disadvantage.