The Olson - Putnam Controversy: Some Empirical Evidence

This paper explores the causal link between associationism and general trust. First we study the principal components that constitute social capital. Then we contrast a structural model identifying the relations between the relevant variables in the so-called Olson-Putnam aporia. The results of the empirical test on the determinants of social capital allow us to conclude that the extension of horizontal networks maintains a direct relation with this form of capital, but not those of vertical type.Associationism Olson-Putnam controversy Social Capital Trust.

Does Corruption Have Social Roots? The Role of Culture and Social Capital

[Abstract:] The aim of this work is to analyse the influence of sociocultural factors on corruption levels. Taking as starting point Husted (J Int Bus Studies 30:339–359, 1999) and Graeff (In: Lambsdorff J, Taube M, Schramm M (eds) The new institutional economics of corruption. Routledge, London, 2005) proposals, we consider both the interrelation between cultural dimensions and the diverse expressions of social capital with corruption. According to our results, the universalistic trust (linking and bridging social capital) constitutes a positive social capital that is negatively linked to corruption. In contrast, the particularistic levels of trust (bonding) can constitute a negative social capital directly related to corruption levels. Furthermore, cultures which are favourable to the legitimation of dependency relations and the formation of closed particularistic groups (power-distance and community factors) create a breeding ground for the development of these amoral rent-seeking structures

El capital social individual: lo micro y lo macro en las relaciones sociales

Ministerio Ciencia e Innovación; CSO2009-0816

Felicidad, bienestar subjetivo y satisfacción en la sociedad gallega

Estudio sobre la evolución de los indicadores de bienestar subjetivo (felicidad) en la sociedad gallega y sus determinante

The Olson - Putnam Controversy: Some Empirical Evidence

[Abstract:] This paper explores the causal link between associationism and general trust. First we study the principal components that constitute social capital. Then we contrast a structural model identifying the relations between the relevant variables in the so-called Olson-Putnam aporia. The results of the empirical test on the determinants of social capital allow us to conclude that the extension of horizontal networks maintains a direct relation with this form of capital, but not those of vertical type

The Endowment of Social Capital as a Determinant of Corruption

[Resumen:] El objetivo del presente trabajo es abordar el papel que desempeñan los entramados sociales como factor explicativo de la corrupción. En particular, se trata de determinar en qué medida los niveles de corrupción percibidos a escala nacional están asociados a ciertas formas de confianza y normas sociales y, por lo tanto, a las dotaciones de las diversas expresiones de capital social. La evidencia empírica obtenida sugiere que la confianza generalizada y las normas universalitas constituyen un capital social positivo que está inversamente relacionado con los niveles de corrupción. Por el contrario, las variantes particularistas de la confianza representan un capital social negativo que está directamente vinculado a la generación de relaciones de corrupción.[Abstract:] The objective of the present work is to address the role played by social capital as an explanatory factor of corruption. In particular, we attempt to estimate to what extent the perceived levels of corruption are associated to certain forms of trust and social norms and, therefore, to social capital in its diverse expressions. The empirical evidence suggests that generalized trust and universalistic norms constitute a positive form of social capital that is inversely related to corruption. By contrast, the particularistic expressions of trust represent a negative social capital directly linked to the rising of corruption relationships

Effects of competition on religious markets: some empirical evidence

[Abstract:] The aim of this article is to assess, from an empirical point of view, the relative explanatory capacities of two hypotheses that address the link between economics and religion: the religious markets and the secularization hypothesis. First, we estimate a baseline model that takes into account both hypotheses jointly. Secondly, we study in a separate way the influence of socioeconomic development and market structure. Finally, we investigate the relationship between group size and religious commitment. Overall, the results suggest some supporting evidence for the predictions derived from the hypothesis of religious markets that emphasize the over-riding importance of the degree of competition as a determinant factor of religious behaviours

Actividad asociativa, confianza y generación de capital social: evidencia empírica

[Resumen:] El objetivo del presente trabajo es avanzar en la delimitación de la noción de capital social y en el análisis de la aparente identidad entre éste y la existencia de redes asociativas. Como punto de partida, realizamos una crítica deconstructiva de las inconsistencias de la definición de capital social, para proponer como concepto alternativo el de capital moral asentado en la creación de consensos valorativos sociales y cuya máxima expresión es la confianza. En segundo lugar y con el objeto de aportar evidencia sobre el discutido papel de la actividad asociativa en la generación de confianza social desarrollamos una contrastación empírica sobre los determinantes de la confianza social. Los resultados verifican la existencia de un claro vínculo entre el despliegue de una amplia estructura organizativa macrosocial, la confianza en las instituciones y la confianza social. Por el contrario, la homogeneidad social y la solidez de las instituciones sociales tradicionales (familia, religión, etc.) no guarda una relación directa con los niveles de confianza social revelada.[Abstract:] The objective of the present survey is to move forward in the delimitation of the social capital notion and in the analysis of the apparent identity between this and the existence of the associative webs. As a point of departure, we carry out a deconstructive critic of the inconsistencies of the definition of the social capital, in order to propose how an alternative concept, the one of the moral capital settled in the creation of social valued consensus whose maximum expression is confidence. At the second level, and with the object to contribute clarity about the discussed role of the associative activity in the generation of social confidence, we develop an empirical contradiction about the determinants of the social confidence. The results inspect the existence of a clear bond between the unfolding of an ample macro social organisative structure, the confidence in the institutions and the social confidence. At the contrast of this, the social homogeneity and the solidity of the traditional social institutions (family, religion, etc…) do not keep a direct relation with the levels of the revealed social confidence

Clarifying the concept of social capital through its three perspectives: individualistic, communitarian and macrosocial

The concept of social capital has received increasing attention in recent years. The complexity and multidimensionality that accompany the variable of social capital have caused confusion and ambiguity. This article presents a synthesis of social capital in three perspectives. From the individualistic or micro-social perspective, social capital is an "individual resource" that consists of the networks of relations of the focal subject that bring it a set of instrumental and expressive resources. For the communitarian or meso-social perspective, social capital is a "community resource" or set of attributes and properties present in the social structure (shared norms and values, private trust, closure ...) that facilitate its functioning and collective action. Finally, for the macrosocial perspective, social capital is a "macrosocial and macroinstitutional resource" resting on aspects such as civic-mindedness, general trust and social cohesion, which favors the functioning of the economy and society in general