Producing social capital as a development strategy: Implications at the micro-level

Anastasia A. Seferiadis, Sarah Cummings, Marjolein B.M. Zweekhorst and Joske F.G. Bunders
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Anastasia A. Seferiadis: ATHENA Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth- and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Sarah Cummings: ATHENA Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth- and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Marjolein B.M. Zweekhorst: ATHENA Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth- and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Joske F.G. Bunders: ATHENA Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth- and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Progress in Development Studies, 2015, vol. 15, issue 2, 170-185

Abstract: This article considers how social capital can contribute to poverty alleviation at the micro-level, based on an analysis of the documentary evidence provided by theoretical perspectives and empirical studies. Across countries and contexts, micro-credit, agricultural production and marketing, environmental protection and knowledge networking are linked to productive social capital. Four mechanisms to strengthen social capital are identified: structural opportunity to meet, ‘know-how’ of social interaction, sense of belonging and an ethos of mutuality. We envision that opportunities within the development practice exist to foster such mechanisms, and recommend in-depth studies to enhance our understanding of social capital production mechanisms.

Keywords: Social capital; literature reviews; poverty alleviation; development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:prodev:v:15:y:2015:i:2:p:170-185

DOI: 10.1177/1464993414565530

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