Journal Article

District Digest: Measuring Social Capital Across the Fifth District

Abstract: How cliquey is your community? How often do people from different income groups in your area befriend one another? Do your neighbors volunteer their time to charitable causes? Social scientists have long studied social capital — the strength and value of social networks within communities — as well as its effects on economic, health, and political outcomes. Political scientists have linked higher civic engagement with the strength of democratic institutions, while economists have studied the role that friendships across socioeconomic statuses might have in fostering economic mobility.

Keywords: social networks; social capital; 5th district; Chetty; social capital community benchmark survey;

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Part of Series: Econ Focus

Publication Date: 2023

Volume: 23

Issue: 2Q

Pages: 27-31