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Social Capital and Poverty: Lessons from case studies in Mexico and Central America

Author

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  • Margarita Flores

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

  • Fernando Rello

Abstract

The aim of this article is to study the relations between social capital (SC) and the result of the efforts made by poor groups to reduce their poverty and social exclusion. To this end, SC is defined as the ability to obtain benefits from networks of social relations. This definition is then applied to the analysis of rural organizations in Mexico and Central America. The authors conclude that SC is a key resource in the success of the projects of the poor groups analyzed. However, in order for this to occur, certain conditions have to be met such as the preservation of social cohesion, the ability to solve new problems and a favorable economic and political climate.

Suggested Citation

  • Margarita Flores & Fernando Rello, 2003. "Social Capital and Poverty: Lessons from case studies in Mexico and Central America," Working Papers 03-12, Agricultural and Development Economics Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - ESA).
    • Handle: RePEc:fao:wpaper:0312
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Durston, John, 1999. "Construyendo capital social comunitario," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), December.
    2. Evans, Peter, 1996. "Government action, social capital and development: Reviewing the evidence on synergy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 1119-1132, June.
    3. Durston, John, 1999. "Construyendo capital social comunitario: una experiencia de empoderamiento rural en Guatemala," Políticas Sociales 6262, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    4. Flores de la Vega, Margarita & Rello, Fernando, 2002. "Capital social rural: experiencias de México y Centroamérica," Copublicaciones, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), number 1738 edited by Cepal.
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    Cited by:

    1. Skoufias, Emmanuel & Lunde, Trine & Patrinos, Harry Anthony, 2009. "Social networks among indigenous peoples in Mexico," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4949, The World Bank.
    2. Md. Shahidul Islam & Khurshed Alam, 2018. "Does social capital reduce poverty? A cross-sectional study of rural household in Bangladesh," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 45(11), pages 1515-1532, August.
    3. Hermann Donfouet & Pierre-Alexandre Mahieu, 2012. "Community-based health insurance and social capital: a review," Health Economics Review, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 1-5, December.
    4. Araujo-Enciso, Sergio Rene, 2010. "Socioeconomic Factors and Its Influence in Vertical Price Transmission: The Case of the Mexican Tortilla Industry," 116th Seminar, October 27-30, 2010, Parma, Italy 94922, European Association of Agricultural Economists.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural development; Case studies; Central America; Development agencies; Development aid; Food supply; Living standards; Mexico; Poverty; Rural communities; Rural development; Social behaviour; Social change; Social conditions; Socioeconomic develop;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O2 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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