Social Capital and Economic Well-Being in Germany's Regions: An Exploratory Spatial Analysis

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

This article explores social capital in Germany in line with Putnam’s claim that social capital benefits regional economic well-being. In particular, this macro-level study examines whether the number of civic associations, as a measure of a vibrant civil society, is related to higher GDP. Since this study uses spatial data on civic associations and official statistics concerning the German NUTS-3 regions, different spatial matrices model interdependencies among the dependent units of analysis. Exploratory spatial data analysis illustrates spatial patterns between districts as well as each variable’s radius of influence. Cross-sectional spatial models help examine social capital’s effect on regional economic well-being. Results of these analyses are two-fold: first, the geographical scope of social capital is locally concentrated, whereas the sphere of economic well-being encloses a wider area. Second, social capital correlates positively with economic well-being in Germany’s many regions.

Object Details

• ISSN: 2409-5370
• Extent: Seite(n): 1-24
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Region: the journal of ERSA, 3(1)

Classification and Topics

• Subject: Städtebau, Raumplanung, Landschaftsgestaltung ; Soziologie, Anthropologie ; Raumplanung und Regionalforschung ; Soziologie von Gesamtgesellschaften ; Bundesrepublik Deutschland ; Sozialkapital ; Bruttoinlandsprodukt ; Wohlstand ; bürgerschaftliches Engagement ; sozioökonomische Faktoren ; regionaler Unterschied

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Botzen, Katrin
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Österreich
• (when): 2016

Further information

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.18335/region.v3i1.73
• Rights: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften. Bibliothek Köln
• Last update: 21.06.2024, 4:27 PM CEST