Social Capital

Social capital is the value generated by various forms of civic engagement, trust, norms of reciprocity, networks, associations and information sharing within a community.

Family and friends are the most basic forms of social capital. Then there are the more organized examples, from youth sports clubs, neighbourhood associations to service groups and government representatives.

What does social capital do?

• Helps information flow throughout the community.
• Encourages norms of reciprocity that compel people to help others for mutual benefit.
• Increases participation in democratic institutions, thereby improving their accountability.
• Facilitates the realization of shared goals.
• Helps the community become resilient to economic, social and environmental changes.

An example of social capital development: The Muskoka Community Network (MCN)

The MCN, a non-profit organization comprised of small and large businesses, government, private citizens and health and education organizations, is using the networks and associationsl already present in the Muskoka region to further develop their social capital and help the community grow in a sustainable manner with social, environmental and economic benefits in mind.

The goal of the Connecting Muskoka project is to ensure that all community members have fast and reliable access to the internet. This will establish necessary infrastructure to keep Muskoka economically competitive, allow more people to work from home or cottage - cutting down on commuting time as well as exhaust emissions, and also allow community groups, private citizens and businesses to become more connected with each other for the advancement of common goals and initiatives.

The possible downside of social capital:

Groups can be exclusive, isolated and hinder the economic and social development of the greater community when the social bonds are restricted along ethnic, religious and social lines. When examining and developing social capital communities need to look at linkages and the creation of networks that bridge social divides and draw in new ideas and resources.

Helpful Links

Bowling Alone - The Sanguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement in America
http://www.bowlingalone.com/
Book by Robert Putnam that popularized the term "social capital."

Civic Practices Network
http://www.cpn.org/tools/dictionary/capital.html
Various aspects and examples of social capital.