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Explaining Unequal Levels of Social Capital in Tehran

Author

Listed:
  • Yahya Shadi

    (Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
    Zanjan University of Medical Sciences)

  • Mohammad Hassan Lotfi

    (Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services)

  • Saharnaz Nedjat

    (Tehran University of Medical Sciences)

  • Mostafa Amini Rarani

    (Isfahan University of Medical Sciences)

  • Esmaeil Khedmati Morasae

    (University of Liverpool)

Abstract

Social capital may act as an asset to serve people in various situations. However, people do not equally enjoy the same level of social capital and there is inequality in distribution of this asset in societies. There is few research within the wider literature exploring the determinants of inequality in social capital. This study measured and decomposed inequality in the distribution of social capital in Tehran using a concentration index approach. Data was gathered through a survey in 2008, the sample included 2484 of over 18-year old residents. Social Capital Integrated Questionnaire was used to measure social capital status, its dimensions (networking, trust, and cooperation) and outcomes (cohesion and political action). Most of social capital dimensions/outcomes were unequally distributed in Tehran, favouring the rich. However, in terms of political action, the poor were more politically active than the rich in Tehran. Decomposition showed that economic status and education had the highest contributions to the observed inequalities. In efforts to move towards a more just society, these findings can inform future policies in Iran to tackle the observed inequalities in social capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Yahya Shadi & Mohammad Hassan Lotfi & Saharnaz Nedjat & Mostafa Amini Rarani & Esmaeil Khedmati Morasae, 2018. "Explaining Unequal Levels of Social Capital in Tehran," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 140(1), pages 243-265, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:140:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-017-1773-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-017-1773-3
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    1. Samuelson Appau & Sefa Awaworyi Churchill & Russell Smyth & Quanda Zhang, 2022. "Social Capital Inequality and Subjective Wellbeing of Older Chinese," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 541-563, April.
    2. Hamidreza Rabiei‐Dastjerdi & Stephen A. Matthews, 2021. "Who gets what, where, and how much? Composite index of spatial inequality for small areas in Tehran," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(1), pages 191-205, February.

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