Social capital in rural places
This research was undertaken under contract to Defra’s Rural Evidence Research Centre (RERC), which is based at Birkbeck College in the University of London. The researchers were Malcolm Moseley of CCRI and Ray Pahl of the University of Essex. The report was published by the RERC in June 2007.
A quasi ethnographic approach was used to study the endowment and value of social capital in four villages and small towns - located in Devon, Shropshire, South Yorkshire and Worcestershire. In each case local social capital - broadly defined as ‘the networks, shared norms and trust that facilitate cooperation within or among groups’ – was found to be crucial in delivering a range of social and economic benefits to those communities, though in one of the villages, cliquishness and warring factions were also apparent.
Implications for government policy were highlighted by the study. These include the importance of local enthusiasm not being allowed to burn itself out by being overwhelmed with excessive regulatory burdens. In short, government should recognise that volunteering must remain fun if social capital is to be replenished in rural England and to be exploited for community benefit.
The final report can be found via the RERC website
