Theory to Practice

Proponents of social capital theory have long argued not only that it is in the best interest of civic life to build social capital but also that social capital is vital for the economic health of communities. This has been confirmed by recent research showing that social capital, especially in its bridging form, is positively associated with job creation at the metropolitan statistical area level. At the same time, social capital is often viewed as something either inherent or absent within a community. This article takes on that assumption by presenting a policy‐based approach to developing social capital. It provides two theoretical explanations for how social capital affects economic development and identifies four lessons for economic development practitioners to use to enhance social capital. These research‐based recommendations for economic development practitioners and policy makers seek to improve the social capital and, consequently, the economic development of their community

Capital (architecture · Economic capital · Economic growth · Economics · Financial capital · Human capital · Individual capital · Metropolitan area · Public economics · Social capital · Social engagement · Social mobility · Social reproduction · Social science · Sociology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social Capital and Networks · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies

• Social capital and community development

  John M Halstead, Steven Deller et al.•Community Development•2021

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• Cloud theory and social capital

  Open Access•Shadi Halabi, Trent Engbers et al.•Israel Affairs•2025

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• Harnessing Social Capital for Post-Covid-19 Resilience

  Open Access•Sua Kim, Divya Chandrasekhar•Journal of Planning Education and…•2024

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• Reduced‐Boundary Governance

  Open Access•Jeremy L Hall, R Paul Battaglio•Public Administration Review•2018

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• Returns to Relationships

  Open Access•Jaya Jha, Edward Kelley•Social Sciences•2023

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• The Impact of Social Enterprises on Individual Wellbeing in South Korea

  Open Access•Changbin Woo, Hyejin Jung•Social Indicators Research•2022

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• The Buffering Effects of Social Capital on Inequalities in Subjective Well-Being Among Older People

  Open Access•Bomi Choi, Hey Jung Jun•Social Indicators Research•2022

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• Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations

  Open Access•John M Bryson•International Encyclopedia of the…•2015

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• Generating Social Capital

  Open Access•Marc Hooghe, Dietlind Stolle•Generating Social Capital•2003

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• Voices of the poor

  Devika Narayan, Deepa Narayan et al.•Voices of the poor•1997

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• Social Capital and the Collective Management of Resources

  Open Access•Jules Pretty•Science•2003

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• Leadership, social capital and incentives promote successful fisheries

  Open Access•Nicolás L Gutiérrez, Ray Hilborn et al.•Nature•2011

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• The engagement of stakeholders in the marine spatial planning process

  Open Access•Robert Pomeroy, Robert S Pomeroy et al.•Marine Policy•2008

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• Delivering Public Services

  Stephen P Osborne•Public Management Review•2010

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• Bowling alone

  Open Access•Robert D Putnam•Proceedings of the 2000 ACM…•2000

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• Social Capital

  John Field, John K Field•Social capital•2008

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• Social Capital

  Open Access•Nan Lin, Bonnie Erickson•Social Capital•2001

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• Measuring Social Capital in Five Communities

  Open Access•Jenny Onyx, Paul Bullen•The Journal of Applied Behavioral…•2000

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• Building community? The characteristics of America's most civic cities

  Open Access•Trent Engbers, Trent A Engbers•Journal of Public Affairs•2015

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• Social and institutional factors as determinants of economic growth

  Open Access•Anil Rupasingha, Stephan J Goetz et al.•Papers of the Regional Science…•2002

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• Social and institutional factors as determinants of economic growth

  Open Access•Anil Rupasingha, Stephan J Goetz et al.•Papers of the Regional Science…•2002

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• Social Network Analysis to Support Stakeholder Analysis in Participatory Forest Planning

  Alessandro Paletto, Katri Hamunen et al.•Society & Natural Resources•2015

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• Social capital and economic development in regional Australia

  Open Access•Andrew Woodhouse•Journal of Rural Studies•2005

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• Korean Rotating Credit Associations in Los Angeles

  Ivan Light, Im Jung Kwuon et al.•Amerasia Journal•1990

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• Managing Social Capital and Diversity for Performance in Public Organizations

  Open Access•Mallory E Compton, Kenneth J Meier•Public Administration•2016

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• Partnerships and public procurement

  Open Access•Andrew Erridge, Jonathan Greer•Public Administration•2002

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• The Elements of Input-Output Analysis

  W H Miernyk•Economica•1966

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• An Economic Approach to Social Capital

  Open Access•Edward L Glaeser, David Laibson et al.•The Economic Journal•2002

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• Metropolitan Governance and Institutional Collective Action

  Open Access•Richard C Feiock, Richard Feiock•Urban Affairs Review•2009

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• Economic Growth and Social Capital

  Open Access•Paul F Whiteley, Paul Whiteley•Political Studies•2000

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• Civic Elites and Corporate Delocalization

  Open Access•Charles H Heying•American Behavioral Scientist•1997

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• Black and White Control of Numbers Gambling

  Open Access•Darrell Steffensmeier, J T Ulmer•American Sociological Review•2006

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• Making Democracy Work

  Fritz Stern, Robert D Putnam et al.•Foreign Affairs•1993

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• Social Capital and the Global Economy

  Francis Fukuyama•Foreign Affairs•1995

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• The Economics of Organization

  Oliver E Williamson•American Journal of Sociology•1981

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• Social capital and economic development

  Open Access•Michael Woolcock•Theory and Society•1998

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• Theory and Measurement in Social Capital Research

  Open Access•Trent Engbers, Trent A Engbers et al.•Social Indicators Research•2017

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