Russia's missing link? Social capital, entrepreneurialism, and economic performance in post-communist Russia

This paper argues that there is a spurious correlation between social capital and economic development in the regions of post-communist Russia. This argument rejects Robert Putnam's collectivist hypothesis that social capital is the ubiquitous cause of economic growth. Rather, the data presente...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communist and post-communist studies 2005-09, Vol.38 (3), p.357-368
Main Authors: Buttrick, Steven C., Moran, John P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Communism
Cultural Capital
Economic Development
Economic growth
Economic networks
Economic performance
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship
Post-communist Russia
Post-communist societies
Postcommunist Societies
Putnam, Robert
Russia
Russian Federation
Social capital
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Summary:This paper argues that there is a spurious correlation between social capital and economic development in the regions of post-communist Russia. This argument rejects Robert Putnam's collectivist hypothesis that social capital is the ubiquitous cause of economic growth. Rather, the data presented in this paper indicates that individualistic behavior in the form of entrepreneurialism, has been the prerequisite for growth in post-communist Russia. While social capital may slow or accelerate economic growth, it will not cause it. Without entrepreneurialism, social capital cannot be harnessed for economic development. In essence, social capital does not create wealth, entrepreneurs do.
ISSN:0967-067X
1873-6920
DOI:10.1016/j.postcomstud.2005.06.005