| Description: |
This paper tests empirically the instrumental significance of social capital for welfare. It first sets out alternative models of the production of welfare, starting with familiar human capital indicators such as education; moving to measures of social integration such as organizational membership; and considering novel social capital measures. Secondly, the paper presents survey-based data about social capital networks in Russia. While Russia is not a typical modern society, for that very reason it has some things in common with many countries in the world where non-modern networks are significant. Multiple regression techniques test the extent to which varied forms of social capital do or do not add to basic components of welfare-getting enough food, income security, and emotional and physical health. In some circumstances social capital networks do produce some increase in individual welfare. But the results also emphasize that social capital should not be analyzed in isolation but as part of a portfolio of resources that individuals use to secure welfare.
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