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Social Capital Of Economic Clusters: Towards A Network‐Based Conception Of Social Resources

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  • FRANZ HUBER

Abstract

To grasp the critical role of socio‐cultural factors for regional economic development, several concepts have been developed, including that of ‘social capital’. This notion usually refers to norms, values, networks, reciprocity or trust which are held in a community and can lead to positive social and economic outcomes. Despite its popularity as a fashionable concept in the literature, the exact meaning of social capital is far from clear. This paper criticises the dominant conceptions of social capital in economic geography and regional studies and aims to place the debate in a different perspective. It argues for an alternative understanding of social capital defined as resources embedded in social networks which can be accessed or are used for actions. The potential to overcome the current weaknesses in the literature is illustrated through discussing social capital of economic clusters.

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  • Franz Huber, 2009. "Social Capital Of Economic Clusters: Towards A Network‐Based Conception Of Social Resources," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 100(2), pages 160-170, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:tvecsg:v:100:y:2009:i:2:p:160-170
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9663.2009.00526.x
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    2. DÖRRY Sabine, 2012. "Luxembourg's specialisation as a financial centre within the global value networks of investment funds," LISER Working Paper Series 2012-40, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    3. Brennan John F. & Paarlberg Laurie & Hoyman Michele, 2013. "Assembling the Puzzle of the Nonprofit-Economic Development Linkage," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 5(1), pages 45-65, October.
    4. Jan Pileček & Pavel Chromý & Vít Jančák, 2013. "Social Capital and Local Socio-economic Development: The Case of Czech Peripheries," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 104(5), pages 604-620, December.
    5. Neil Lee, 2017. "Psychology and the Geography of Innovation," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 93(2), pages 106-130, March.
    6. Huber, Franz, 2013. "Knowledge-sourcing of R&D workers in different job positions: Contextualising external personal knowledge networks," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 167-179.
    7. Martina Fromhold-Eisebith & Claudia Werker, 2013. "Universities’ functions in knowledge transfer: a geographical perspective," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 51(3), pages 621-643, December.
    8. Jili Xu & Fiona Fan Yang & Desheng Xue, 2019. "The Geography of Knowledge Sourcing, Personal Networks, and Innovation Effects: Evidence from the Biomedical Firms in Guangzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, June.
    9. Banjo Roxas, 2021. "Environmental sustainability engagement of firms: The roles of social capital, resources, and managerial entrepreneurial orientation of small and medium enterprises in Vietnam," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 2194-2208, May.
    10. Margo P. M. Enthoven & Aleid E. Brouwer, 2020. "Investigating spatial concentration of sustainable restaurants: It is all about good food!," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 64(3), pages 575-594, June.

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