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The China-West divide on social capital: A meta-analysis

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  • Hongjuan Zhang

    (Tianjin University)

  • Liang Wang

    (University of San Francisco)

  • Rong Han

    (Tianjin University of Finance and Economics)

Abstract

The mixed empirical results on the impact of social capital call for a better understanding of the conditioning effect of contextual differences. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess whether and how social capital functions similarly or differently between China and the West. Both network centrality and the bridging of structural holes are positively related to performance, but the impact of structural holes is not significant in China. The findings suggest that network centrality is more effective than the bridging of structural holes in China, whereas network centrality and the bridging of structural holes both have a positive impact on performance in the West.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongjuan Zhang & Liang Wang & Rong Han, 2019. "The China-West divide on social capital: A meta-analysis," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 745-772, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:asiapa:v:36:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s10490-018-9585-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10490-018-9585-9
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