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Social Capital and Cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe: A Theoretical Perspective

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Author Info
Murray, Catherine
Abstract

The transition process in central and eastern Europe (CEE) had a profound effect on how individuals interact. Economic and social institutions have changed, requiring an adaptation process by individuals in the move toward a market economy. How each individual accesses, manipulates and uses their networks will determine the use of their social capital. Within CEE, there is a presumption of low levels of social capital. This paper was written as a conceptual framework for a research project entitled 'Integrated Development of Agricultural and Rural Institutions' (IDARI) in CEE countries. One element of the IDARI project is to understand the emergence and maintenance of cooperative behaviour in light of rural restructuring and institutional change in CEE. A link exists between social capital formation and cooperation amongst individuals, as both concepts imply social interaction and the formation of trust. This paper questions the rationale of applying the contested 'western' concept of social capital to CEE countries. It argues that although the concept was developed to understand processes within established democratic systems, it nevertheless is instrumental for analysing how trust is formed, and for understanding cooperation amongst individuals. As such, this framework reconciles literature from sociological and economic disciplines. Social networks and use of those networks (social capital) is becoming more important in light of accession to the EU, particularly when opportunities within and access to rural and regional development programmes are dependent on existing networks. Social capital is seen as a dynamic entity, a form of institutional change, which leads to innovation in the existing governance structures. Thus social capital provides a powerful explanatory tool for processes of institutional change.

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Paper provided by Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences in its series Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers with number 18831.

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Date of creation: 2005
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Handle: RePEc:ags:huiain:18831

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Keywords: Institutional and Behavioral Economics;

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  1. Paldam, Martin & Svendsen, Gert Tinggaard, 2000. "Missing social capital and the transition in Eastern Europe," Working Papers 00-5, University of Aarhus, Aarhus School of Business, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
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  2. Kunioka, Todd & Woller, Gary M., 1999. "In (a) democracy we trust: social and economic determinants of support for democratic procedures in central and eastern Europe," The Journal of Socio-Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 577-596. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Eggers, Jorg & Laschewski, Lutz & Schleyer, Christian, 2004. "Agri-Environmental Policy in Germany: Understanding the Role of Regional Administration," Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers 18832, Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
  4. Annen, Kurt, 2003. "Social capital, inclusive networks, and economic performance," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 449-463, April. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Elinor Ostrom, 2000. "Collective Action and the Evolution of Social Norms," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(3), pages 137-158, Summer. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Emery N. Castle, 2003. "The Social Capital Paradigm: Bridging across Disciplines-An Overview," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, American Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 85(5), pages 1208-1210, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Samuel Bowles & Herbert Gintis, 2000. "Walrasian Economics In Retrospect," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 115(4), pages 1411-1439, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  8. Jörg Eggers & Lutz Laschewski & Christian Schleyer, 2004. "Agri-Environmental Policy in Germany - Understanding the Role of Regional Administration," ICAR Discussion Papers (Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources) 0404, Division of Resource Economics, Department of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences, Humboldt University Berlin. [Downloadable!]
  9. Paldam, Martin, 2000. " Social Capital: One or Many? Definition and Measurement," Journal of Economic Surveys, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 14(5), pages 629-53, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  10. Williamson, Oliver E., 1996. "Transaction cost economics and the Carnegie connection," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 149-155, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  11. Timothy Moss, 2005. "?Dissecting Institutions? - Bestandteile einer institutionellen Konfiguration am Beispiel der Wasserwirtschaft," ICAR Discussion Papers (Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources) 0705, Division of Resource Economics, Department of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences, Humboldt University Berlin. [Downloadable!]
  12. Gatzweiler, Franz & Hagedorn, Konrad, 2001. "The Evolution of Institutions in Transition," Discussion Papers 18895, CEESA: Central and Eastern European Sustainable Agriculture International Research Project. [Downloadable!]
  13. Greif, Avner, 1994. "Cultural Beliefs and the Organization of Society: A Historical and Theoretical Reflection on Collectivist and Individualist Societies," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 102(5), pages 912-50, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  1. Beyene, Fekadu, 2007. "The Role of Customary Institutions in Managing Conflict on Grazing Land: A Study from Mieso District, Eastern Ethiopia," Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers 7703, Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
  2. Bekele Hundie, 2006. "Explaining Changes of Property Rights among Afar Pastoralists, Ethiopia," ICAR Discussion Papers (Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources) 1406, Division of Resource Economics, Department of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences, Humboldt University Berlin. [Downloadable!]
  3. Gatzweiler, Franz & Volkmann, Jorg, 2007. "Beyond Economic Efficiency in Biodiversity Conservation," Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers 7704, Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
  4. Hundie, Bekele, 2006. "Explaining Changes of Property Rights among Afar Pastoralists, Ethiopia," Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers 18833, Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
  5. Chobotova, Veronika & Kluvankova-Oravska, Tatiana, 2006. "Shifting Governance In Slovensky Raj National Park," Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers 18834, Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
  6. Beckmann, Volker & Soregaroli, Claudio & Wesseler, Justus, 2006. "Governing the Co-existence of GM Crops: Ex-Ante Regulation and Ex-Post Liability under Uncertainty and Irreversibility," Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers 18845, Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
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  7. Jungcurt, Stefan & Meyer, Thomas, 2006. "CONSOLIDATION, DELIMITATION AND STALEMATE. Disruptive Interplay and Strategic Incentives in the CBD-TRIPS Relationship," Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers 18843, Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
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  8. Theesfeld, Insa & Schleyer, Christian & Callois, Jean-Marc & Aznar, Oliver, 2008. "Ex-ante Policy Assessment from an Institutional Perspective. A Procedure for Institutional Compatibility Assessment (PICA)," Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers 6112, Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
  9. Thiel, Andreas, 2006. "Institutions of Sustainability and Multifunctional Landscapes: Lessons from the Case of the Algarve," Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers 18844, Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
  10. Tisdell, Clem, 2008. "BEHAVIOURS OF CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS. Analysis based on New (and not so new) Institutional Economics," Institutional Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion Papers 6185, Humboldt University Berlin, Institute for Agricultural Economic and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
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