Status and Social Capital: A Cross-Sectional Quantitative Investigation of Flood Survivors in South Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

A growing body of evidence underscores that social capital mitigates the impact of natural hazards such as floods. But we know less about the distribution of social ties in developing countries regularly hit by shocks. Our study examined the differences between demographic groups in South Punjab, Pakistan affected by the 2010 floods, comparing respondents’ levels of social capital measured through proxies such as received social support, perceived community cohesion, accessibility to leadership, and general level of trust. We carried out univariate and multivariate analyses of factors including gender, education, occupation, landholding, family size, annual income, number of livestock, and home stability. Using data collected in face-to-face interviews with 450 flood survivors, our analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the flood victims’ scores on all four scales based on gender and family size. However, education, occupation, landholding, annual income, and home stability statistically correlated with levels of social capital. Respondents with high levels of education, high levels of land, higher home stability, and a government job typically had higher scores in all four measurements of social ties. Our results show strong inequality in the distribution of social capital, with better connections and assistance coming to those who already have better socioeconomic positions in society.

Assessing the role of socio-demographic characteristics, social support and formal disaster assistance in predicting the subjective recovery of flood survivors in Pakistan

“…Secondly, access to social networks is determined by pre-existing socioeconomic inequities, and may worsen in collective trauma such as disastrous oods. Deep rooted poverty and social exclusion block residents from social networks and formal institutions (Akbar et al, 2022). Nevertheless, the long-term recovery phase requires signi cant contributions from formal institutions through nancial and careerrelated support (Dinh et al, 2021).…”

“…However to what extent this post-disaster aid and social support predicts the recovery and rehabilitation of disaster victims remains an unanswered question. A quantitative study conducted by Akbar et al (2022) on the 2010 oods demonstrated that social support and capital are highly unequally distributed. The British colonial system in the subcontinent produced a fault line of social inequality which has survived in agricultural Pakistani ood-affected communities.…”