Social Capital, Diversity, and the Welfare State

Download or read book Social Capital, Diversity, and the Welfare State written by Fiona Kay and published by UBC Press. This book was released on 2011-11-01 with total page 367 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Social capital is arguably the most critical idea to emerge in the social sciences in the last two decades. Emphasizing the importance of social networks, communication, and the symbolic and material exchanges that strengthen communities, social capital has been the subject of an expansive body of literature. Social Capital, Diversity, and the Welfare State represents a landmark consideration of the diverse meanings, causal foundations, and positive and negative consequences of social capital, with a particular focus on its role in mitigating or enhancing social inequalities. The chapters, written by economists, political scientists, and sociologists, address a range of empirical and theoretical issues. This book is cutting-edge addition to the field that offers fresh insights into the conceptualization, operation, sources, and consequences of social capital in Canadian society.