Importance Of Social Capital Research Articles

The role of social capital in environmental protection efforts: evidence from Turkey

The existing literature has recognized the role and importance of social capital in natural resource management. Several studies provide empirical evidence that higher levels of social capital may positively affect individuals' behavior towards natural resources management. This study is therefore an attempt to investigate the environmental quality impacts of social capital and central government expenditures on environmental protection, taking spatial dimension into account from 2009 to 2017 for Turkey. A general-to-specific approach has been adopted where spatial variations in the relationships have been examined with a dynamic spatial Durbin model, using the panel data at NUTS3 level. The empirical results do not support the validity of an environmental Kuznets curve, rather a U-shaped environmental Kuznets curve is validated, which exhibits spatial dependence. Estimation results show that industrial production has detrimental effects on the environment, while social capital improves it. The central government expenditures on environmental protection are effective in the abatement of pollution, and its effectiveness is enhanced when social capital is controlled. In addition to spatial spillover effects, our results show the presence of strong path dependency; that is, there is certain pollution inertia. Moreover, environmental protection policies would be more effective if social capital levels are improved.

Contextualizing the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on food security in two small cities in Bangladesh.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an evolving urban crisis. This research paper assesses impacts of the lockdown on food security and associated coping mechanisms in two small cities in Bangladesh (Mongla and Noapara) during March to May 2020. Due to restrictions during the prolonged lockdown, residents (in particular low-income groups) had limited access to livelihood opportunities and experienced significant or complete loss of income. This affected both the quantity and quality of food consumed. Coping strategies reported include curtailing consumption, relying on inexpensive starchy staples, increasing the share of total expenditure allocated to food, taking out loans and accessing relief. The pandemic has exacerbated the precariousness of existing food and nutrition security in these cities, although residents with guaranteed incomes and adequate savings did not suffer significantly during lockdown. While coping strategies and the importance of social capital are similar in small and large cities, food procurement and relationships with local governments show differences.

Effects of Social Capital on Cocoa Production in Cameroon

The importance of social capital is another new stylized fact in promoting agriculture The objectives targeted are: to examine the impact of social capital in the enhancement of cocoa production, explore the determinants of social capital and to determine the challenges faced by producers in Santchou cocoa zone. Methodologically, we have constructed a social capital indicator using Multiple Correspondence Analyses. Primary data is collected in the zone and probit model use to estimate the result. The result revealed a strong correlation between social capital and agricultural production while the level of education, gender, marital status, financial status, experience in farm activity, household size and agricultural training are strongly corroborating with social capital. In addition, farm size, level of education, application of farm inputs (pesticides and fertilizers), modern equipment, climate change, access to credit and land tenure system are observed to be the major challenges of farmers in this cocoa zone. We suggest that the decision makers should promote social networking among farmers in the zone.

Does second-order social capital matter to green innovation? The moderating role of governance ambidexterity

Despite the importance of social capital on green innovation has been recognized, our knowledge of the influence of second-order social capital is still unclear. Based on social exchange theory and transaction cost economics perspective, we develop hypotheses regarding the impacts of second-order social capital on green innovation, as well as the moderating role of governance ambidexterity (i.e., balanced dimension and combined dimension). We use questionnaires to collect data from 212 Chinese firms and conduct hierarchical regression analysis to test hypothesized relationships. The results suggest that second-order social capital from both customers and suppliers have positive effects on green exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation. Balanced dimension strengthens the effect of second-order social capital from customers on green exploratory innovation while weakens the effect of second-order social capital from suppliers on green exploratory innovation. Further, combined dimension strengthens the effect of second-order social capital from suppliers on green exploitative innovation while weakens the effect of second-order social capital from customers on green exploitative innovation. This research enriches the literature on social capital and green innovation.

The role of dyadic social capital in enhancing collaborative knowledge creation

Despite general agreement on the importance of social capital in individual knowledge creation, little is known concerning the role of dyadic social capital in collaborative knowledge creation. This study proposes a classification of dyadic social capital using two-dimensional matrix and investigates their roles in enhancing collaborative knowledge creation. It is found that the dyads who have strong dyadic tie strength while taking advantage of their dyadic bridging social capitals both in the ego network and global network come up with more high-impact knowledge. This study also challenges the statement that an inverted U-shaped relationship between dyadic tie strength and knowledge creation found in previous literatures, and indicates dyadic structure hole serving as effective moderating effect makes the quadratic effect disappear and catalyzes the strength of strong tie.

Toward a community resilience framework for disaster risk management. a case study: landslide Cisolok in Sukabumi 2018 and Sunda strait tsunami in Pandeglang 2018

Along with the increase in large and medium-scale disasters in the world, including in Indonesia, in the last decade, many theories and practices have developed in terms of measuring and improving disaster resilience. This study discusses the conceptual model of community-level disaster resilience and disaster risk reduction. Using a basic conceptual model for spatial protection to geological hazard, research examines the role of community resilience in reducing risk by using social dimensions. To explore the conceptual model of spatial resilience at the community scale, case studies conducted in two disaster events, are (1) communities affected by landslides in Cisolok, Sukabumi District on 31 December, 2018 and (2) Sunda Strait tsunami in Pandeglang tourism area on 22 December, 2018. Research suggests that the importance of social capital in terms of forming community resilience is related to disaster risk reduction. Social network, social experience, social knowledge and belief systems, contribute to increasing resilience and disaster risk reduction. The results of this study are the importance of building social capital and spatial resilience of communities in reducing disaster risk.

Social capital for rural revitalization in China: A critical evaluation on the government’s new countryside programme in Chengdu

In the context of urbanisation and decline of its countryside in the 21st century, the Chinese government has initiated a campaign namely “building a socialist new countryside” in 2006 which is now renamed as “rural revitalisation”. Bringing together social capital, government intervention and other capital, we argue that rural revitalisation can be viewed as a process of the interaction between land transfer and community building leading to multiple gains of all stakeholders. Given the predomination of top-down government intervention and external capital investment in its campaign, this paper sheds new light on social capital in terms of not only mobilising community members’ participation, but also reaching a balance with interests of government and other stakeholders. The importance of social capital can be illustrated from critical evaluation on governmental pilot projects in the suburban zone of Chengdu, a model municipal in China in urban-rural integration. In particular, this paper aims to address the following questions: How does social capital engage and contribute to rural restructuring for sustainable rural livelihoods? What role can social capital play in the decision making of land transfer and community building? This paper contributes to rural revitalisation and land use debates in three aspects. Firstly, we post a triangular model by bringing together government intervention, social and other capital to emphasize the interwoven nature of the relationship between land transfer and community building for better understanding of the intrinsic dynamics within the communities and their interests interfaced with external stakeholders. Secondly, with respect to the impact of land transfer on sustainable livelihoods, we propose an evaluation framework to account and compare the roles of social capital against government intervention and other conditions in land transfer decision making. Thirdly, applying the above framework to sample villages, we identify three types of rural restructuring: government-led, farmer self-organising, and returned entrepreneur-oriented. Policy implications and further research direction are discussed.

The Role of Innovation Ecosystems and Social Capital in Startup Survival

Innovation ecosystems, including technology parks and incubators, endeavor to achieve a high density of startups that is rich in social capital to help tenants evolve. Given the importance of social capital on startup success and the opportunity for social capital diffusion in high-density ecosystems, the inconclusive impact of ecosystems on firm performance warrants further attention. We present a startup survival model that distinguishes between access to social capital and using it. Empirical tests with the longitudinal Kauffman Firm Survey find that those startups that use social capital by collaborating with other agents (universities, industries, and government organizations) significantly outperform startups that do not. However, we also observe that the amount of social capital available in an ecosystem counterintuitively does not correlate with a tenant's use of it, and correlates weakly with longer life expectancy. These results are moderated by whether the tenant is a high-tech startup or not. Findings contribute to extant research in innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Policy and pedagogical recommendations for leveraging an ecosystem to improve firm performance and achieve the ultimate goal of regional economic development are discussed.

Elder Abuse and Social Capital in Older Adults: The Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study

Background: Elder abuse is a serious public health issue worldwide, but large-scale epidemiologic studies remain sparse. Although social factors in human relations such as social support and social isolation have been proposed as the factors related to elder abuse, cognitive social capital has not been examined. Objective: This study aims to clarify the prevalence of and the factors associated with elder abuse among independent older adults in Japan. Methods: The study design is a retrospective observational study. The data were derived from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). These self-report data were collected from 26,229 people aged 65 years or older living in 28 municipalities in 2013. The types of elder abuse and factors associated with them were examined using logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of elder abuse among the sample was 12.3% (11.1% in males and 13.3 in females). In the entire sample, physical, psychological, and financial abuses were reported to be 1.26, 11.12, and 1.45%, respectively. Factors associated with increased odds of experiencing abuse were being a woman, living with family members, having poor self-rated health, and having mild or severe depression. By contrast, age ≥85 years, being widowed, or unmarried, and having a positive view of community trust were associated with a lower risk of experiencing abuse. Conclusion: While particular demographic factors and health are associated with a greater risk of elder abuse, our findings that trust within the community lessens the risk indicates the importance of social capital. This should be taken into consideration when developing population-based strategies to prevent elder abuse.

Nexus between Social Capital and Firm Performance: A Critical Literature Review and Research Agenda

Given the importance of social capital in entrepreneurial success and growth, understanding how it can be exploited for optimal performance of the venture becomes critical. While the Government of Kenya, in recognition of the importance of entrepreneurial ventures in driving the economy, has put in both structural and affirmative measures towards enhancement of social capital and support for entrepreneurs, performance of these businesses still remains significantly low. The objectives of this study were to discuss the key constructs, variables and perspectives underlying the conceptualization of social capital and performance, and the arising controversies. Additionally, the study sought to discuss key methodological issues emerging from existing empirical studies, highlight critical knowledge gaps emanating from critical review of the literature and suggest a robust conceptual framework to guide a further study that would address the highlighted knowledge gaps. This study is anchored on the social capital theory which strongly considers social capital as an essential form of capital; one that no business can ignore and expect to survive or thrive. Other supporting theories include the contingency theory, economic theory, anthropological theory and innovation theories. Among the major gaps identified by this study include methodological gaps; most studies reviewed used descriptive design which is known to be the weakest in establishing cause and effect relationships. Some of the studies had very small sample sizes, known to potentially increase errors. Other gaps include contextual gaps; most of the studies considered established businesses where operations tend to be more standardized and innovation is adequately funded, unlike the low income areas where resources are often limited. Conceptual gaps were identified among studies that used direct relationships. For a broader and deeper appreciation of the relationship between social capital and performance, this study recommends conceptualization of a future study whereby the mediating effect of innovation and the moderating effect of operating business environment are considered, preferably within a low income area with less established / informal businesses within the service sector.

How Relevant Is Grit? The Importance of Social Capital in First-Generation College Students’ Academic Success

Traditional definitions of Grit have diminished the role of institutional actors in student success. Social capital theory posits that students derive benefits like institutional resources, information, and support through their social networks to achieve success in higher education. This study employed social network analysis to operationalize dimensions of social capital. Using a sample of first-generation college students (FGCSs; N = 156) at a 4-year private institution, this study explored the relationship between grit and social capital, and how these concepts relate to FGCS success. This study found that Grit and its two components—consistency of interest and perseverance of effort—do not predict FGCS’ grade point average, while access to social capital with faculty and staff does. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

The importance of social capital in agriculture

The concept of social capital became known in the 1980’s as an immaterial resource in the society and it is also a popular area of sociological and economic researches nowadays. Bourdieu, Coleman, and Putnam created the fundamental conceptions of the social capital. Defining social capital as capital involves the philosophy of serving as a resource for the social network.
 Studies of the rapidly growing economy of East Asia always emphasize the importance of dense social networks. These networks, the unacceptable, the confidential, reduce the transaction costs, speed up the flow of information and innovation. Social capital and financial capital can be converted. The great economic developments in Hungarians in the last century are different from these causes. In Hungary, there is a very low level of cooperation as well as willingness to develop it. Among Western European countries the level of trust is lower than the average. This basic problem is closely related to the low level of trust and social capital in society as a whole. Partnerships and cooperations are essential nowadays as they can be beneficial to the whole society and economy. In addition, the farmers' eagerness to associate is also weak and the options on how to resolve this issue are still not settled.
 Enforcement of the Hungarian peasantry in agricultural cooperatives (1958-1962) left a profound impression on society and its consequences must be taken into account. The good reputation and the credit could be quickly lost; on the contrary recovery – especially rebuild mutual trust- takes more time. Hungarian farmers do not have the confidence to regain each other in the long run. It should be changed, otherwise the majority of the Hungarian farmers will not have the chance to stay competitive.

Influence of Depression of the Elderly on Self-Neglect: Focusing on the Comparison Between Genders and the Moderating Effect of Social capital

본 연구의 목적은 노인의 우울과 자기방임 간의 관계에서 사회자본이 가지는 조절효과를 검증하 고, 노년기 자기방임의 개선을 위한 실증적 기초자료를 제공하고자 수행되었다. 분석을 위해 서울 대학교 SSK고령사회연구단의 ‘노인의 건강한 노화 및 웰다잉에 관한 연구’ 자료를 활용하였으며, 총 2,076명이 분석에 활용되었다. 자료는 남성 노인과 여성 노인 집단으로 구분 후, 변인 간의 관계를 비교하였다. 분석 결과, 우울은 남성 노인과 여성노인 모두에게서 자기방임을 높이는 요인 으로 나타났다. 또한 사회자본의 조절효과를 살펴보면, 남성노인의 경우 사회참여가 우울과 자기방 임의 관계를 조절하는 것으로 나타났다. 여성노인의 경우는 네트워크, 사회참여, 사회적 지원의 조절효과가 통계적으로 유의한 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과를 토대로 노인의 자기방임의 예방과 관리, 사회자본의 중요성을 포함한 사회복지적 개입 방안 및 실천적 함의를 논의하였다.The purpose of the study was examining the moderation effect of social capital in the relationship between depression and self-neglect among Korean elderly, and provide basic resource for improvement of their self-neglect. For analyzation, 2,076 elderly data from ‘A study for successful aging and well-dying’ which was conducted by SSK Aging Society Research Center in Seoul National University. The data was divided into male and female older people, and compared the relationship between its influencing variables. In the results, depression was the negative factor on self-neglects in both genders. Also, in the moderation effect of social capital, social participation was the only sub-factor that moderates the relationship among male older people. However, network, social participation, and social support were the significant moderating factors among female older people. Based on these results, it was suggested the social work-based and practical implications that include precaution and care of self-neglect, and the importance of social capital.

Роль соціального капіталу у розвитку інтегрованих структур за участю малих сільськогосподарських виробників

Роль соціального капіталу у розвитку інтегрованих структур за участю малих сільськогосподарських виробників

Executive succession: The importance of social capital in CEO appointments

Research Summary: Firm performance and corporate governance have been shown to influence CEO selection, but our understanding of the role of social capital is more limited. In this study, we seek to provide further insight into the role of social capital by examining the influence of both “bonding” and “bridging” forms of social capital on CEO appointments. We find that candidates who have relational social capital, in terms of overlap with the CEO in organizational tenure, board tenure, and CEO tenure are more likely to be appointed as CEO. We also find that candidates who have external linkages to the CEO in the form of geographic, prestigious university, and prior employment affiliations are more likely to be appointed CEO. Managerial Summary: The appointment of a new CEO has significant and widespread implications for the firm’s future strategic direction and performance, the relationship between the board and CEO, and perceptions by investors, employees, and other key stakeholders. Our study finds that candidates who have shared connections and experiences with the CEO in terms of geographic, prestigious university, or prior employment affiliations as well as overlap in terms of organizational tenure, board tenure, and CEO tenure are more likely to be appointed CEO. Given the enormous impact that executive appointments have on the strategic direction and performance of the company, it is important to recognize that social factors such as shared experiences and connections influence how candidates are perceived, and thus, may affect appointment decisions.

An Empirical Study Evaluating Social Networking Continuance and Success

ABSTRACTSocial networking site (SNS) use decisions have led to major economic and social transformations worldwide. While many organizations seek to use SNSs from a strategic perspective to reach their customer, it is important to understand what makes SNSs successful in order to use them for competitive purposes. The current research evaluates the influence of the social capital theory on SNS success measures. A model was developed and empirically tested using two data samples to ensure valid and reliable results for success of SNSs. The results display the importance of social capital in SNS success followed by practitioner and academic implications.

근린환경특성과 주민의 보행활동이 사회적 자본의 형성에 미치는 영향 분석: 서울시 4개 자치구를 중심으로

This study aims to examine the causal relationships between perceived neighborhood environments, walking activity, and social capital based on theoretical frameworks. Recently, the importance of social capital has been increased for sustainable urban regeneration and qualitative growth. Social capit...

Does Social Capital Matter in the Location Decision of Foreign Direct Investment? Evidence from Korea

Social capital refers to the stock of social relationships such as network, norms, and trust that facilitate both coordination and cooperation. Utilizing an extensive firm-level data set for 2006–10, this paper investigates the importance of social capital in conjunction with the conventional location factors that are known to influence the location decisions of multinational firms within Korea. Our nested logit estimates show that the “Trust and Norms” component of social capital has a stronger influence on locational decisions than does the “Social Network” component. That is, regions in Korea characterized by a high level of “Trust and Norms” attract more knowledge-based foreign direct investment (FDI) firms than those with lower levels of trust and norms. In addition, positive agglomeration externalities are more powerful in regions with a higher level of trust and norms. Another important result of our analysis is the discovery that the regions with high unemployment levels and union activities are less attractive to foreign investors. On the basis of the results we conclude that measures that strengthen the trust and norms component of social capital should be fostered along with traditional cost-saving policies, which are used to attract FDI in Korea.

Why Arunachal Pradesh’s Social Sector Development is Asymmetrical: A Cross-district Investigation

Regional inequality, in terms of cross-district variations, has attracted the attention of researchers and policy-makers alke, helping them to understand horizontal differences and provide alternatives in removing disparities. Several studies have indicated that such variations are an important reason behind the ethnic and political strife found in such regions—a problem that gets accentuated when these areas are dominated by the tribal and are simultaneously underdeveloped. Apart from historical and social factors and the endowment of natural resources, government policies and programmes have also contributed in creating unequal levels and trends in the socio-economic development of a region. Arunachal Pradesh, one of the least studied states in India and located in the north eastern part of the country, is in a transitional phase of its socio-economic development and has shown variations in the levels of development across districts. Given the quality of social capital available in the state, it seems that development is required not only to increase an adequate resource flow, but also to create an enabling environment to attract people towards realising the importance of social capital. For such an understanding, a mapping of cross-district variations in the development of the social sector in Arunachal Pradesh is vital. This study tries to assess the disparity in the social sector across Arunachal Pradesh’s districts by using the principal component analysis (PCA) method to rank districts. On the basis of ranks, the study attempts to analyse reasons behind the levels of disparity. In conclusion, on finding conceptual problems in traditional indicators of social sector development, some alternatives have been outlined.

Importance of social capital in organisations: an exploratory study

The purpose of the paper is to understand the role of social capital in organisational level innovativeness. A questionnaire method was used in order to assess the role of social capital in organisations. The study found that frequency (no. of times) the TMT interacts with the contacts is significantly positively correlated with organisational innovativeness, whereas duration (how long the TMT has known the contact within the firm) has a negative correlation with organisational innovativeness. The study is an exploratory study and hence takes only 45 senior managers of private sector organisations. Therefore, generalisation is not possible. Future studies can expand its horizon. This will also facilitate better comparison between organisations.