Social capital
From MediaFranca
Some definitions of the term
"Is the attitude, spirit and willingness of people to engage in collective, civic activities. Over time, social capital builds what may be termed as social infrastructure, a key item discussed in the Strategic Social Plan." http://envision.ca/templates/profile.asp
The networks of relationships among persons, firms, and institutions in a society, together with associated norms of behavior, trust, cooperation, etc., that enable a society to function effectively. http://www-personal.umich.edu/~alandear/glossary/s.html
Defined by the OECD as “…networks, together with shared norms, values and understandings which facilitate cooperation within or among groups”. http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/sarc/E-Democracy/Final_Report/Glossary.htm
The degree to which a community or society collaborates and cooperates (through such mechanisms as networks, shared trust, norms and values) to achieve mutual benefits. There are many definitions and discussions about social capital, for more information see Robert D. Putnam's Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (Simon & Schusterk Publishing, 2000). http://www.icfdn.org/publications/blurredborders/40definitions.htm
A "composite measure" which reflects both the breadth and depth of civic community (staying informed about community life and participating in its associations) as well as the public's participation in political life. It is characterized by a sense of social trust and mutual interconnectedness, which is enhanced over time though positive interaction and collaboration in shared interests. http://mapp.naccho.org/MAPP_Glossary.asp
the combination of informal institutions, norms, conventions and social preferences possessed by a society enabling effective achievement of social and economic goals. Bonding social capital draws people in a given group more closely together, while bridging social capital builds links between social groups. http://www.med.govt.nz/irdev/econ_dev/population/2003/2003-07.html
This term refers to a range of measures, which assist in defining or describing the health of the social fabric or community life in economic terms. http://www.ccd.net/resources/guide/glosary/glossary4.html
The value of social networks that people can draw on to solve common problems. The benefits of social capital flow from the trust, reciprocity, information, and cooperation associated with social networks. http://www.agtrade.org/glossary_search.cfm
The total stock of a society's productive assets, including those that allow the manufacture of the marketable outputs that create private-sector profits, and those that create non-marketed outputs, such as defence and education (Bannock et al., 1992, 396). http://poli.haifa.ac.il/~levi/res/dicpe.html
Social capital "refers to the collective value of all 'social networks' and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other," according to Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone and the concept's leading exponent (though not its originator). According to Putnam and his followers, social capital is a key component to building and maintaining democracy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_capital
