ABSTRACT
Social capital theory has been very successful in explaining a wide variety of behaviors and outcomes. Even before Putnam’s (1993, 2000) landmark works, and certainly since, study after study has shown that those who had social ties realized benefi ts and advantages that those without ties did not. Research at the individual level has shown the benefi ts for health and happiness, educational attainment and social welfare, and career advancement and material gain. Research at the organizational, community, and state levels has shown how social capital results in improved performance, power, and political stability (see Portes 1998).
