Since the mid 1990s, theoretical and empirical research on how social capital affects well-being has blossomed in the field of economic development. Based on noted theoretical and empirical work in other social sciences, this concept is now becoming a vital new tool for economists.

The chapters in this volume explore the challenges and opportunities raised by this concept for researchers, practitioners and teachers. Social Capital and Economic Development is based upon a consistent, policy-based vision of how social capital affects well-being in developing countries. The book includes a comparison of experimental and empirical evidence on social capital and a range of field-based evidence, from environmental to cultural to nation-building and on how investment in social capital can improve well-being. The contributions are from leading development economists as well as non-economic social scientists with expertise in this field.

Development academics, practitioners, and environmental economists will find this coherent volume of great interest, as well as those involved in public policy in the developing world.

About the Author
Edited by Jonathan Isham, Assistant Professor of Economics, Middlebury College, Thomas Kelly, formerly Assistant Professor of Economics, Middlebury College and Sunder Ramaswamy, Frederick C. Dirks Professor of International Economics, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont, US

Reviews
'. . . this book enables one to form a well-informed opinion or critique about the concept of social capital. . . it serves its purpose eminently well.' -- Journal of Social and Economic Development
'This book presents a fine selection of papers about social capital. . . Personally, I enjoyed reading the book from the start. The different chapters present an interesting mixture of contributions written by researchers with mostly an economic background trying to cope with an analytical concept that originates from sociology. This is a great intellectual challenge. But the different examples show that the authors manage to deal with this challenge, and it is a road worthwhile to be taken. . . I really recommend this book to development economists as well as sociologists.' -- Lutz Laschewski, Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture
'The book is carefully edited and thoughtfully arranged. . .' -- Robert Tripp, Development Policy Review
'This book would well serve an introductory course on development economics, to ensure that students do not lose sight of the value of families, friendships, culture, civic society, and social virtues for the well-being of peoples. Often, such things get left out because the do not fit into the working model. The essays in this volume seek to make room in the model.' -- Raymond J. de Souza, Markets & Morality



Book Information
ISBN 9781840646993
Author Jonathan Isham
Format Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Publisher Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd