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social capital - the benefits
Child development is powerfully shaped by social
capital. Trust, networks, and norms of reciprocity within the s family,
school, peer group have far reaching effects on their
opportunities and choices, and hence on their behaviour and development
(ibid.: 296-306)
In high social-capital areas public spaces are
cleaner, people are friendlier, and the streets are safer. (ibid.: 307-318)
A growing body of research suggests that where trust
and social networks flourish, individuals, firms, neighbourhoods, and even
nations prosper economically. (ibid.: 319-325)
 There
appears to be a strong relationship between the possession of social capital
and better health. Regular club attendance, volunteering, entertaining, or
church attendance is the happiness equivalent of getting a college degree or
more than doubling your income. Civic connections rival marriage and
affluence as predictors of life happiness (ibid.: 333).
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