Income Groups, Social Capital, and Collective Action on Small‐Scale Irrigation Facilities: A Multigroup Analysis Based on a Structural Equation Model

Abstract

This article examines whether relationships between social capital characteristics and the willingness of farmers to cooperate in collective action is moderated by the farmers' income level. We employed a structural equation model to analyze the influence of social capital components (social networks, interpersonal trust, social reciprocity, and social participation) on the willingness of farmers to cooperate in collective small‐scale irrigation in Guangling County, Shanxi Province of China. This analysis was complemented by a multigroup analysis to measure the potential variance effects across income groups. Our results show that low‐ and middle‐income farmers give more importance to the aspects of social networks, social reciprocity, and social participation, while high‐income farmers place emphasis on interpersonal trust and social participation. Accordingly, the willingness of farmers to cooperate for the different income groups was influenced in different ways in relation to the various social capital components. Therefore, social capital and income differences have complex effects on the willingness of farmers to cooperate. In this regard, our research provides an alternative way to understand the complex process involved in the formation of collective action under the presence of increasing economic heterogeneity in local communities.

Moral Obligation, Public Leadership, and Collective Action for Epidemic Prevention and Control: Evidence from the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Emergency

“…As a result of individual rational choice, individuals' motivation to participate in collective action is affected by many factors. Numerous existing studies focus on the impact of social capital on residents' participation in collective action [2][3][4][5][6]. They believe that social capital, such as social trust, relationship networks, and social norms, can realize the combination of residents' micro-individual and macro-collective actions that can effectively avoid free-riding problems and promote the success of collective action [7].…”

Impact of Institutional Features on the Overall Performance Assessment of Participatory Irrigation Management: Farmers’ Response from Pakistan

“…Therefore, the goodness-of-fit of the measurement model actually represents that the data obtained were compatible with the theories [40]. In order to obtain the acceptable goodness-of-fit, the researchers must be concerned with their datasets that are collected are based on the respondent's perception.…”

Trust or Control? The Role of Group Size in Governing Small‐scale Irrigation Facilities*

“…The relationship between trust and control in influencing commons governance is highly controversial, mainly because the commons governance is a dynamic process, thus collective action cannot be simultaneously reached without interactions among these constructs. Trust is generally recognized as the main determinant for the success of commons governance (Jicha et al 2011; Miao et al 2018; Ostrom 2000b; Tsai and Ghoshal 1998), and a higher level of trust leads to a higher propensity for collective action (Miao et al 2015). Since trust functions to increase the interactions among members and to reduce the transaction costs in irrigation management organizations, it is expected that trust can enhance commons governance.…”