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

Institutional Approach to Social Capital Theory

Woolcock and Narayan (2000) identified that proponents of the institutional view argue that the vitality of community networks and civil society is largely the product of the political, legal and institutional environment.' The approach views social capital as a dependent variable where as the communitarian and networks perspectives largely treat social capital as an independent variable giving rise to various outcomes (Woolcock and Narayan 2000). Authors include Knack and Keefer (1995, 1997); Collier and Gunning (1999); Collier (1998, 2002); Rodrik (1998, 1999) and Easterly (2000). Woolcock and Narayan (2000, p. 235) identified that the very strength of the institutional view in addressing macroeconomic policy concerns, however, is also a weakness in that it lacks a microeconomic component.