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SOCIAL CAPITAL OF ECONOMIC CLUSTERS: TOWARDS A NETWORK-BASED CONCEPTION OF SOCIAL RESOURCES
Article first published online: 6 MAR 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9663.2009.00526.x
© 2009 by the Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG
Issue
Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie
Volume 100, Issue 2, pages 160–170, April 2009
Additional Information
How to Cite
HUBER, F. (2009), SOCIAL CAPITAL OF ECONOMIC CLUSTERS: TOWARDS A NETWORK-BASED CONCEPTION OF SOCIAL RESOURCES. Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 100: 160–170. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9663.2009.00526.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 6 MAR 2009
- Article first published online: 6 MAR 2009
- Received: April 2008; revised October 2008
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Social capital;
- social networks;
- social resources;
- clusters;
- relational economic geography;
- knowledge spillovers
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.