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Social Capital: The Value Hidden in Relationships
Why who you know shapes what you can do and who you become
Economic models often treat people as isolated individuals making rational choices. But humans are fundamentally networked — and the shape of those networks determines life outcomes.
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Robert Putnam landmark study Bowling Alone documented the decline of civic participation in the United States and its consequences for community health and democratic functioning.
Social capital refers to the networks, norms, and trust that enable coordination and cooperation in society. Like financial capital, it can be accumulated, depleted, and invested.
Social capital explains why economic development programs fail when they ignore community trust and networks — and why rebuilding social ties is as important as rebuilding infrastructure.
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