Social capital

Social capital is made when people spend time with others and build good relationships. It is the help and worth that a person can get from their ties with other people. Social capital is like real capital. When a person or a group has more capital, it is easier to do things, and life is better. When there is less capital, life becomes harder, and the results are not good for people.

The name social capital was first used by Pierre Bourdieu in 1977. He said it means all the real or possible help a person can get by being part of a group where people know each other and trust each other. These people often follow the same rules and may know each other through their jobs.^[1]

Later, in 2001, Nan Lin said that social capital comes from two things: what someone has, and who they know. Help comes from the people we know and speak with. People get help when they talk with others and work with others in their group or with people who have many friends and support from others.^[1]

Most ways to measure social capital are about trust. People who trust that help will come when they need it are more likely to help others too. But if someone only takes help and gives nothing back, they will not get much help in the future. A person who tries to move up in society by becoming friends with others who have social capital but does not give help is called a social climber. Some call this person a social parasite. It is hard to see right away this kind of person, like someone who cheats and commits fraud. When there are too many people like this, especially at work or in politics, people stop trusting others. For example, when politicians win by gaining people’s trust but use their power to hurt others or to help only their friends, people stop trusting the government.

People who do not have real money often cannot get help from others. They may have to do things they do not want to do or force others to live in shameful lives. This is how organized crime grow, and how forced labor and slavery start. Society works best when people give and receive trust and care. This builds help and support that can improve quality of life. When social capital is low, social problems become worse. If there is no social capital at all, it can lead to strikes, people fighting the government, or even conflicts between countries.

• Human capital
• Social status

The Social Capital Foundation Archived 2010-01-06 at the Wayback Machine