Social capital is a term used to refer to the extent of positive, collective, socially-stored potential which can be drawn upon within a society. It is analogous to notions of economic capital.
Social capital is poorly understood, loosely measured, and chronically undervalued. Current economic activities do not properly account for social capital, resulting in its unnecessary diminishment.
- Conservation Economy
Lin (2001) defines social capital as resources embedded in a social structure that are accessed and/or mobilised in purposive actions.
- Goette, L. & Huffman, D. (2007). Affect and the motivational foundations of social capital. Review of General Psychology, 11, 142-154.
- Lin, N. (2001). Social capital: A theory of social structure and action. New York: Cambridge University Press.
- Topics @ a glance - Social capital (Australian Bureau of Statistics)