Social Capital: Implications for Development Theory, Research, and Policy

Abstract

In the 1990s the concept of social capital-defined here as the norms and networks that enable people to act collectively-enjoyed a remarkable rise to prominence across all the social science disciplines. The authors trace the evolution of social capital research as it pertains to economic development and identify four distinct approaches the research has taken: communitarian, networks, institutional, and synergy. The evidence suggests that of the four, the synergy view, with its emphasis on incorporating different levels and dimensions of social capital and its recognition of the positive and negative outcomes that social capital can generate, has the greatest empirical support and lends itself best to comprehensive and coherent policy prescriptions. The authors argue that a significant virtue of the idea of and discourse on social capital is that it helps to bridge orthodox divides among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

Agricultural cooperatives for social capital development in Latvia

“…There are therefore numerous definitions of social capital found in the literature (Adler, Kwon, 2002), e.g., "…social capital comes about through changes in the relations among persons that facilitate action" (Coleman, 1988 Narayan, 2000) argue that definition of social capital includes not only the structure of networks and social relations, but behavioural dispositions (such as trust, reciprocity, honesty) and institutional quality measures (rule of law, contract enforceability, civil liberties, etc. ), where the relations have been organized by way of conscious association, of self-organisation and organised communication (Narayan, Cassidy, 2001).…”

“…Measuring social capital may be difficult, but it is not impossible, and several excellent studies have identified useful proxies for social capital, using different types and combinations of qualitative, comparative and quantitative research methodologies (Woolcock, Narayan, 2000;World Bank, 2011). One quantitative indicator of social capital development measuring is membership in non-governmental institutions; inter alia cooperatives (Wiesinger, 2007).…”

Policing, Community Fragmentation, and Public Health: Observations from Baltimore

“…1,2 Community fragmentation, or lack of social cohesion, can result from many processes and is associated with poor health. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] One process that may be linked to community fragmentation and ill health is violent policing.…”

Step-Change: Micro-Entrepreneurs’ Entry into the Middle-Class Market

“…Bridging ties are ties beyond micro-entrepreneurs' immediate networks or beyond their community and that enable micro-entrepreneurs to link into other networks (Woolcock & Narayan, 2000). Through bridging ties, micro-entrepreneurs can access, for example, new or different equipment and knowledge (Woolcock & Narayan, 2000).…”