A Social Capital Basis for Environmental Concern: Evidence from Northern New England*

Abstract

This study, based on a random‐digit‐dialing telephone survey of adults in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, uses ordinary least squares regression to examine a relatively neglected element in the sociological literature on environmental concern, namely, the influence of an individual's social capital on the formation of environmental attitudes. We argue that it is those individuals with a greater diversity of social connections who are most likely to be influenced by ecological perspectives grounded in conservation and environmental protection. Controlling for other theoretically relevant variables, we regress an index of environmental concern that gives special emphasis to environmental‐economic trade‐offs on our measures of relational and community social capital. While confirming much of the earlier work in this area, our model provides evidence that connections to other people play an important role in determining individual concern for the environment. Specifically, the number of respondents' “weak ties”—that is, not their closest relationships—and the average occupational status of respondents' social ties, in general, were both positively correlated with environmental concern. Additionally, one of our three measures of community social capital, the number of visits from friends over the past month, was statistically significant and negatively correlated with environmental concern.

Does Intelligence Improve Environmental Sustainability? An Empirical Test

“…Using data from 23 counties and cities in Taiwan from 1998 to 2004, Tsai () documents that a one percent increase in social capital is associated with a 0.38–0.43 percent increase in regional recycling rate. Similarly, empirical literature shows that social capital is positively correlated with environmental concerns (Macias and Nelson, ), responsibility for addressing environmental issues (Miller and Buys, ) and biodiversity (Grafton and Knowles, ).…”

Community Size and Environmental Spending Views: Urban, Suburban, and Rural Attitudes on Environmental Protection and Improvement

“…While the results of this study alone cannot disprove a theory, they did not provide support that rural residents are less likely to favor an economic-environmental trade off. Some of the literature alludes to this theory as becoming obsolete (Podeschi and Howington 2013) (Macias and Nelson 2011). However, it is stated in most of the literature that rural residents tend to have lower levels of education and lower incomes.…”

“…Forest Service" (Jones 2003). Recent literature such as Podeschi and Howington (2013) and Macias and Nelson (2011) suggests that even the extractive commodity hypothesis is becoming increasingly less accurate because of changing economic spheres and ideals. The urban, liberal ideals are perhaps diffusing into rural sectors.…”

Pollution Prophylaxis? Social Capital and Environmental Inequality*

“…In addition, the diversity of one's social networks can provide novel types of information and contacts (Granovetter, 1973) and encourage more critical reflection and appreciation for alternative perspectives (Mutz and Mondak, 2006). Macias and Nelson (2011) therefore find that people with diverse networks tend to be more concerned about the environment. Using panel data from and 2008, Quintelier, Stolle, and Harell.…”