Human capital and social capital are crucial in shaping entrepreneurial decisions, yet their combined effects on entrepreneurship entry remain insufficiently explored. This study uses data from the China Household Tracking Survey (2010–2018) to examine how the coupling of human and social capital influences entrepreneurship entry. By defining human-social capital coupling as the interdependence between these two forms of capital, we estimated its nonlinear impact using generalized propensity score matching and analyzed variations across gender and region. The results revealed that human capital-social capital coupling mediated the relationship between these capitals and entrepreneurship entry, following a significant N-shaped trend with identified thresholds. The impact of this coupling was also influenced by gender and regional variations. The study contributes to the literature by introducing a novel perspective on capital coupling, assessing its threshold effects, and highlighting gender and regional disparities. Individuals should understand and use the human capital-social capital coupling to guide their actions; policymakers are encouraged to consider and enhance the coupling between human and social capital in their entrepreneurship support strategies.
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This paper explores country-level macro-structural conditions that are associated with social capital, measured as individuals’ access to social resources. To explain differences in social capital across societies, we formulate hypotheses based on welfare state generosity, cultural orientations (collectivism vs. individualism), and income inequality. We test our hypotheses using data from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) 2017, which comprises a total sample size of 50,010 individuals living in 33 countries. We use the position generator survey instrument to build two composite measures of social capital: the diversity and the socio-economic status of social contacts. Multilevel regression models reveal that diversity of social contacts is generally greater among individuals in countries with generous welfare states, while access to contacts of a higher socio-economic status is generally better among individuals in countries with higher levels of individualism. A country’s income inequality is not associated with the social capital of its citizens. However, the association between a person’s socioeconomic status and the diversity of their social capital is moderated by income inequality. As such, our study serves to demonstrate that macro-social conditions at the country level do influence individual social capital and have different implications depending on the dimension considered.
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This study examines how social networking facilitated by coworking spaces help entrepreneurs. Drawing on previous research in the different social science disciplines, a conceptual model is proposed that links coworking space interventions to social capital, and performance benefits. The model distinguishes three coworking interventions, i.e. design of the physical space, facilitative tools, and community management. Furthermore, the model differentiates bridging and bonding social capital. Nineteen interviews were conducted with entrepreneurs who work in three coworking spaces. The findings confirm the relationship between coworking space interventions, bridging and bonding social capital, and performance benefits. Theoretically, this study contributes in developing further knowledge about the increasing social value of coworking spaces. Managerially, this study highlights how the curation of collaborative workspaces can help promoting social capital as well as better conditions for individuals who seek to work in social environments.
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Entrepreneurship is a viable income-generating option for refugee women. Entrepreneurial work can bypass limits placed on work permits, obstacles in the formal economy, and familial responsibilities. Critical to success is access to and attainment of social capital, but women entrepreneurs are frequently hampered by gender and cultural biases. Due to such limitations, they face difficultly in attaining bridging and linking capitals, which are necessary for gaining access to support networks and target markets within a host society. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a crucial role in enabling refugees to access support and social capital. NGOs become an instrumental component for women refugees to develop business plans, navigate host country laws and practices, access resources for start-ups, and gain mentorship. However, the types of support available are often NGO-specific, which restricts their applicability. Despite intermittent, beneficial encounters encouraged by NGOs, the long-term impact is questionable due to the variability and inconsistency of service offerings.
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Community activities are believed to contribute to the cultivation of social capital and social cohesion. For this study, a community ‘living room’, a community activity for lonely, elderly people in a mid-sized Dutch city, was studied. Interviews and observations showed that the community activity was experienced positively, and that social interactions in this particular setting were much appreciated in the face of loneliness. This held not only true for the participants, but also for the volunteers. Nevertheless, the activity did not significantly contribute to the development of social capital. Social contacts established during the activity did not extend beyond the setting. A general lack of trust is seen as a major factor inhibiting the development of social contacts beyond the setting.
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Objectives: To assess whether social capital benefits older adults’ self-rated health and well-being and whether physical activity mediates this relation. Methods: A survey study was conducted among members of a sociocultural organization (age ≥55 years), both cross-sectionally (baseline Time 1; N = 959) and longitudinally (3-year follow-up Time 2; N = 409). Results: Specific indicators of social capital were positively, though modestly, related to health and well-being at Time 1 and Time 2. Experienced connectedness with age peers emerged as the strongest predictor. Physical activity only mediated the relation with experienced safety in society. Discussion: The relative importance of older adults’ experienced connectedness with their age peers underlines the importance of internalized group membership as a determinant of their health and well-being. Physical activity seems to play only a minor mediating role.
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In my belief the effectiveness of organizations has more to do with managing people in a more ethical, sustainable and effective way than what is common these days. For example employees values like trust, respect and commitment are rarely considered as values that can contribute to social capital in organizations as an important and critical success factor. I will present the hypothesis that social capital in organizations exists and that is formed out of employees values like trust, respect and commitment and the process of creating social capital is influenced by leadership style and the way of decision making. A conceptual model to describe the relationships is shown in chapter 3. Chapter 4 defines social capital as dependent variable and presents important theoretical considerations from Putnam, Bourdieu, Coleman and Fukuyama leading to the conclusion that social capital is about a network sharing values and norms to cooperate freely and therefore effectively. The value of social capital derives from basic values like trust, respect and commitment, so is made clear in chapter 5 where these values are theoretically introduced and commented on. The process from basic value to social capital is influenced by leadership style and participating in decision making as is illustrated in chapter 6, that leads to the conclusion that it is profitable to invest in a proper way of leadership style and a proper way of decision making, causing the best amount of social capital. Another conclusion is that this field is empirically not well explored, but interesting.
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In many fields within management and organizational literature there is considerable debate and controversy about key theoretical concepts and their definitions and meanings. Systematic metaphor analysis can be a useful approach to study the underlying conceptualizations that give rise to these controversies and putting them in perspective. It can help identify the different ways a theoretical concept is structured and given meaning, provide insight into the way these different conceptualizations relate to each other, and show how these conceptualizations impact further theorization about the concept. This article describes the procedure for a systematic analysis of the metaphors used to conceptualize key theoretical concepts. To examine its usefulness, the authors apply the approach to the field of social capital, and in particular to the concept of ‘relationships’ in organizations. In the metaphor analysis of three seminal articles on social capital, the authors identify seven metaphoric concepts for relationships. The metaphors are illuminated as important for providing imagery that adds specific meaning in the process of authors theorizing about social capital like ‘tie’, ‘path’ and ‘bridge’. They add dynamics and controllability to the concepts by attributing an array of verbs like ‘to move between’ or ‘to use’ relationships. In addition, the metaphors allow for the attribution of specific characteristics to the concept of relationships that can be used as variables in theory construction, such as the strength of a relationship or the ‘distance’ between people. These insights are useful in exploring and reconciling differences in social capital definitions.
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Metaphors are at the basis of our understanding of reality. Using the theory of metaphor developed by Lakoff and Johnson (1980, 1999) this paper analyses common metaphors used in the intellectual capital and knowledge management literatures. An analysis of key works by Davenport & Prusak (2000), Nonaka & Takeuchi (1995), and Stewart (1991) suggests that at least 95 percent of all statements about either knowledge or intellectual capital are based on metaphors. The paper analyses the two metaphors that form the basis for the concept of intellectual capital: ‘Knowledge as a Resource’ and ‘Knowledge as Capital’, both of which derive their foundations from the industrial age. The paper goes into some of the implications of these findings for the theory and practice of intellectual capital. Common metaphors used in conceptualising abstract phenomena in traditional management practices unconsciously reinforce the established social order. The paper concludes by asking whether we need new metaphors to better understand the mechanisms of the knowledge economy, hence allowing us to potentially change some of the more negative structural features of contemporary society.
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Research on the spatial variation in ‘populist’ and ‘anti-establishment’ voting focuses on the role of ‘left behind places’, where these parties are particularly successful in regions that have been left behind economically or culturally. Applying this perspective to the German case, this paper examines the spatial distribution of ‘populist’ and ‘anti-establishment’ voting. Using micro-data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) and official regional statistics at NUTS 3 level, we construct a multilevel model to investigates the roles of socio-economic and demographic contextual and individual level determinants with the intention to vote for AfD, die Linke, and radical right or ‘anti-establishment’ parties in general in the 2017 federal election. Specifically, we explore how social capital – encompassing interpersonal relations and civic engagement – affects the likelihood of voting for these parties. Although social capital is commonly thought of as a shielding effect against ‘populist’ and ‘anti-establishment’ voting and strengthening political representation, its influence on anti-establishment voting remains vague. Based on original survey data from 2017, the results show that indicators of interpersonal relations and civic engagement in networks of civil society, specific forms of social capital, seem to play an important role in affecting voting behaviour, revealing that civically involved individuals are more likely to support established democratic parties, rather than voting for a ‘populist’ or ‘anti-establishment’ party.
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