Considering the Role of Social Capital for Economic Development Outcomes in U.S. Counties

Abstract

The authors examine major aspects of the connection between social capital and economic development in U.S. counties. They test the conclusions of Putnam, who saw associations as a force for positive development, and Olson, who concluded the opposite. The authors find that Putnam organizations have a negative effect on income, while Olson organizations have a positive effect by decreasing levels of income inequality. Drawing on the literature distinguishing between bridging versus bonding, the authors show that bridging capital has a positive effect on development by increasing per capita income, while bonding capital has a neutral effect on both per capita income and income inequality. Finally, religious variables are tested for their relationship with economic development. Overall, congregation density has a negative influence by increasing per capita income and income inequality, controlling for geographic type. Congregations with bridging characteristics have a mixed effect on development by decreasing income and decreasing inequality.

Encouraging Engagement in Water Conservation: Can Trust from Extension Create Change?

“…Prior literature agreed with the results from this study, implying the influence of social capital on willingness to pay. Studies conducted by Jones et al (2011) andHoyman, McCall, Paarlberg, &Brennan (2016) supported social capital as an avenue for developing economic shifts in consumption of resources. This study supported the creation of social capital as an effective method of encouraging water conservation.…”

“…Research should be conducted on the best environments for developing social capital through the proposed water-care programs. This study could include collecting information on offering education in formal versus non-formal group settings and the purpose of the group (Hoyman et al, 2016). Understanding the purpose of the group, whether created for social or economic interests, may change the effectiveness of water conservation behavior change and acceptance of sustainable practices.…”

Increasing the Size of the Pie: The Impact of Crowding on Nonprofit Sector Resources

“…Studies have used varying geographic boundaries, but we follow past literature by adopting the county as the unit of analysis (Grønbjerg and Paarlberg 2001;Ben-Ner and Hoomissen 1992;Marcuello 1998), particularly for its relevance to policymakers, who are often organized at the county level (Grønbjerg and Paarlberg 2001;Hoyman et al 2016). County economic and demographic data is collected from the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).…”

Untitled

“…Social capital is a proceeding concept, which acquired wide recognition among scholars of different disciplines -sociology, political sciences and economy. Although there are many studies about diverse aspects of social capital, there is no shared agreement on the meaning of this concept (Nguyen, Rieger, 2017, Hoyman et al, 2016. In sociology, the term "social capital" arose in community studies, emphasising an importance of networks providing trust and mutual co-operation in such communities (Jacobs, Tillie, 2004).…”