Social Capital
Introduction to Social Capital Social Capital Literature Conceptualisation of Social Capital Social Captial Conclusions Further Research on Social Capital Social Capital References
Evolution of Social Capital
Contemporary Authors on Social Capital
Definition of Social Capital
Capital Debate
Social Captial Theory
Dimensions of Social Capital
Levels of Social Captial
Types of Social Capital
Determinants of Social Capital
Benefits of Social Capital
Downsides of Social Capital
Conceptualisation of Social Capital
Problems with the current conceputalisation of social capital
Social Capital Conceptualisation Approaches
Operationalisation of Social Capital
Measurement of Social Capital
Building Social Capital
Gender Issues and Social Capital
Social Capital and Natural Resource Management
Summary of Social Capital Literature Review

Further Research Opportunities in Social Capital Theory

This study provides the basis for further conceptualization and identifies a number of areas where further research is required. There are currently a plethora of categorizations of social capital in the literature that require further work to establish a rigorous set of types. Another area that requires work is the causal relationships that determine productive / perverse social capital that appear to be highly context specific. A particularly important area is in the development of sufficient tools for empirical measurement and theoretically informed building attempts. There are a number of other research areas identified, including:

  • processes working to reduce the costs associated with working together thereby facilitating collective action;
  • the various levels, and ownership of social capital as well as the types, to establish an agreed framework and definition (with empirical support);
  • processes and how they operate to build or improve social capital structure; and
  • each of the elements of the conceptualization and measurement based on this theoretical framework.