On The Empirics Of Social Capital

This paper critically examines the way in which empirical evidence is developed in support of a role for social capital in socioeconomic outcomes. Three leading studies of social capital are reviewed and in each case argued to suffer from various identification problems. A general set of conditions...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Economic journal (London) 2002-11, Vol.112 (483), p.F459-F479
Main Author: Durlauf, Steven N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Children
Economic growth models
Economic growth theories
Economic models
Economic theory
Economics
Empirical evidence
Empirical research
Instrumental variables
Linear models
Linear regression
Neighborhoods
Observational studies
Social capital
Social research
Social sciences
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomics
Statistical analysis
Studies
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This paper critically examines the way in which empirical evidence is developed in support of a role for social capital in socioeconomic outcomes. Three leading studies of social capital are reviewed and in each case argued to suffer from various identification problems. A general set of conditions under which social capital effects may be identified in linear models is given. Careful attention to these conditions combined with greater openmindedness as to what constitutes appropriate evidence seems the best route to improving empirical studies of social capital.
ISSN:0013-0133
1468-0297
DOI:10.1111/1468-0297.00079