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SUMMARYThere is a surprising gap in the economic literature on social capital. First, we lack studies addressing the effects of social capital on those facets of development that can contribute in making growth more sustainable in the long run, like, for example, human development and social cohesion. Second, it is still unclear what type of networks may exert a positive effect on the different dimensions of development. In particular, the literature has not yet provided a rigorous assessment of the role of strong family ties, that are generally referred to as a form of bonding social capital causing backwardness. This paper investigates the relationship between the three types of social capital so far identified by the literature (i.e. bonding, bridging and linking), and the "quality" of economic development, as expressed by human development and an index of social well‐being summarizing the state of health of urban ecosystems, public services, gender equality, and labour markets.The empirical analysis is articulated in two stages carried out by means of a multivariate analysis and of a structural equations models analysis.The results suggest that the linking social capital shaped by voluntary organizations has significantly positive effect on human development, but is irrelevant for social well‐being. The bonding social capital shaped by strong family ties negatively affects human development, but significantly fosters the quality of life, mainly through a reduction of workers' precariousness. The bridging social capital of weak ties connecting friends and acquaintances follows the pattern of bonding social capital: it is reinforced by strong family ties and has significantly negative effect on human development.

The paper deals with economics of social capital which is defined as the capacity of society for collective action in pursuit of common good. Particular attention is paid to the interaction between social capital and formal institutions, and the impact of social capital on government efficiency. Structure of social capital and the dichotomy between its bonding and bridging forms are analyzed. Social capital measurement, its economic payoff, and transmission channels between social capital and economic outcomes are discussed. In the concluding section of the paper we summarize the results of our analysis of the role of social capital in economic conditions and welfare of Russian cities.

Purpose
– Increasingly, higher education institutions are being held to account for the performance of their students internally in terms of academic performance and timely program completion, as well as externally through job placement. This challenge is compounded by a range of additional factors including fluctuating, international economic conditions, an increasingly globalised, competitive environment, widespread provision of online qualifications, and high student drop-out rates. There is a pressing need therefore to understand the factors which contribute to positive perceptions of institutional services and the way in which these drive student retention, especially within the first year experience. This research aims to explore the role of affective commitment in students' perceived satisfaction within the student-university relationship and the effect of this on retention in an Australian tertiary context.


Design/methodology/approach
– A qualitative approach was adopted using four focus groups and eight in-depth interviews with first year undergraduate students enrolled at a large metropolitan Australian university. In addition, an online expert forum was used to obtain qualitative verbatim from 22 internationally-based faculty educators.


Findings
– The results of this study suggest that the development of deeply entrenched emotional bonds with students is important in facilitating high levels of satisfaction during the first year experience. In addition, a sense of belonging was perceived by faculty as being the primary mechanism for ensuring the retention of students beyond the first year of enrolment.


Practical implications
– From a managerial perspective, uncovering the nature of student-institution relationships and the importance of affective forms of commitment will enable higher education institutions to develop more targeted relationship marketing programs to increase student retention.


Originality/value
– In a unique contribution, this research examines this issue from the perspective of first year students, as well as from an international faculty perspective, enabling a multi-dimensional comparison to be drawn between the perceptions of the student, and the service provider.

Does social capital generate positive influences on economic development and democratic governance? This question has important theoretical and policy implications for the contemporary world, especially for the developing countries. The primary goals of this study are to investigate the stock of two types of social capital—bridging social capital and bonding social capital—in rural China, and furthermore to examine the impacts of these two types of social capital upon economic development, grassroots governance, and democratic participation in rural China. In this study bridging social capital has been measured by the participation in inclusive social networks and general trust among villagers, and bonding social capital has been measured by the participation in exclusive social networks (the clan organizations) and parochial trust among villagers. In terms of the stock of social capital, this study has found that: (1) the traditional, bonding social capital still has a very solid foundation in rural China; (2) the modern, bridging social capital is in formation in rural China, even though the stock of this type of social capital is very moderate. Case studies as well as a series of statistical analyses are applied to assess the impacts of different types of social capital. Based on a nation-wide survey of 410 villages in rural China, this study has indicated that both subjective norms and objective networks of the bridging social capital—the general trust and participation in inclusive social networks—have a significant and positive impact on economic development, grassroots governance, and democratic participation in rural China. However, both subjective norms and objective networks of the bonding social capital—the parochial trust and participation in exclusive networks (the clan organizations)—generate negative impacts on such domains.

This thesis contributes to the current debate in literature about local economic development by considering two different topics: quality of institutions, and the role of clusters in innovation and productivity growth. The research is built upon three papers. The first paper deals with the analysis of the effect of administrative continuity on administrative efficiency. The analysis underlines the importance of different typologies of social capital. Findings reveal a positive impact on administrative efficiency (AE) by administrative continuity (AC) when it is coupled by bridging and linking social capital. On the contrary, bonding social capital influences negatively the effect by AC on AE. The second paper investigates the spatial interaction in levels of quality of government (QoG) among European regions. Notwithstanding the largely recognised role by institutions in the design of regional policies, no study has been conducted about the mechanisms of interaction and diffusion of QoG at regional level. This research wants to overcome this knowledge gap in literature. Findings reveal a heterogeneity in spatial interaction among groups of regions, i.e. 'leader regions' (Northern regions) and 'lagging regions' (Southern regions), when considering different mechanisms of interaction (learning / imitating competition and pure competition). Moreover, the effect of wealth on the levels of QoG is nonlinear. Finally, the third paper analyses the relation among specialization and productivity within the agricultural sector. In literature, the study of clusters dynamics has long neglected agriculture. The analysis describes the changes in sectorial specialization for eight main crop groups in Italian regions (NUTS 3), assessing the existence of spatial autocorrelations by using an exploratory data analysis. Furthermore, the effect of specialization on productivity is analysed within the main crop groups using a spatial panel data model. Findings reveal a marked tendency to specialization in the Italian agriculture, and a heterogeneous effect by specialization on productivity.

Cover -- Half Title -- Series Information -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- 1 Introduction -- Part I The Biological Fundamentals -- 2 Foundations: Evolutionary Brain Science in the 21st Century -- Along Came Marshall -- Biology as "Mecca" of Economics -- Metaphors vs. Linkages -- Marshall as Synthesizer Not Innovator -- Background: The Three-Phased Evolutionary Transition to Humanity -- So What Are Amniotes? -- So Who Are Amniotes? -- Back to Framework: The First Phase: Self-Survival -- The Point of Divergence: Last Common Ancestor of Mammals, Reptiles, Birds -- For Human Brain Evolution: Follow the Synapsid Line -- Point of Divergence Ends the First Transitional Phase: Cold-Blooded Self-Survival Is the Key -- The Second Phase: Evolution of Parental Care, Social Bonding -- The Third Phase: Evolution of Higher Primates and Homo Sapiens -- Paul MacLean and Ann Butler -- Paul MacLean: The Triune Brain Concept -- The Mismeasure of MacLean's Triune Brain Modular Concept -- Faulty Reviews in Key Journals -- A Resurgence of Interest -- The Interconnected Three-Phase Human Brain -- Current Thinking On the Timing of the Point of Divergence -- MacLean's Phases Two and Three -- The Evolution of Interconnected Triality -- Genes and Continuity -- Early Amniote Structure Master Routines of Life Support -- Early Mammals Warm-Bloodedness, Parental Care, Play and Social Bonding -- The Neocortex and Greater Complexity of Behavior -- Butler and the Three-Phased Transition -- As a Motivated Response: A Replacement Generalization -- Of Profound Importance for Consilience -- An Objective Terminology -- An Evolutionarily Accurate Model -- Therian Formation -- Stem Mammalian Formation -- Common Amniote Formation Or A-Complex -- A Welcome "Replacement Generalization" -- Cautionary Pitfalls -- No Ancestral Dragons.

In this research, the challenges of using human capital and the effectiveness of social capital as an alternative resource used by immigrant women from non-English-speaking countries living in Central Alberta for them to attain economic security are studied. Evidence indicates heavy use of bonding social capital by immigrant women—primarily through family, ethnic, and religious networks—as a "survival" resource at the initial stage of settlement. The bonding social capital is relatively easy to access; nevertheless, in the case of visible minority immigrant women living in Central Alberta, bonding social capital has limited capacity in helping them to obtain economic security because their family and friends themselves often lack economic resources. As a result, these immigrant women are expected to compete in the labor market using their human capital to obtain higher-paying jobs. The challenge among immigrant women remains in seeking recognition of non-Canadian credentials, and/or successful acquisition and deployment of Canadian credentials in the primary labor market.

AbstractPrivatization is recommended unconditionally by some scholars as the optimal means for achieving economic development. While privatization can be helpful medicine, it provides no universal cure for all the ills associated with low economic growth. A country's economic and political institutions are intertwined. Mandating privatization without being mindful of both political and economic consequences to such a policy can bring undesirable consequences during and after policy implementation. This paper proposes that to enhance the likelihood of economic growth a leader should blend economics with politics. Sensitive political leadership can stimulate a bonding among citizens, a bonding which can generate the commitment to risk by investing personal savings, to work the long hours which much precede the rewards, and often to be satisfied by a job well done rather than with material reward. Analogous to the chief executive officer of a successful corporation, the effective political leader involves stakeholders, steers decision processes, takes reasonable risks, encourages private investment, and rations public resources according to national priorities. Collective decision‐making guided by the political leader, who also acts as a strategic manager during implementation, is offered as a model for development.

Acknowledgement: This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 693229 – Appendix A. This poster introduces a model of inclusive capital currently being developed to analyse institutional access. The model is based on Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Pierre Bourdieu and Sarita Yardi's theories of human capital. Inclusive capital is the sense of inclusion we all need to feel. Inclusive capital is acquired, and a single cycle of acquiring it is in four stages: the first stage is bonding with a network of people; the second stage is learning inclusive capital through networks - learning inclusive capital consists of acquiring habits, knowledge and practices that lead to inclusion; the third stage is collecting information, and using technologies to gain information, and to update inclusive capital; the fourth stage is physical access to spaces and places, such as visiting or attending cultural institutions.

Introduction / Hiroyuki Hino and Taylor St. John -- Opening remarks / John Lonsdale -- I. Ethnicity in Africa: Overview of Issues and Prospects / Bruce Berman, Motoki Takahashi -- II. Designing Democratic Rules to Foster Nationhood / Abdul Raufu Mustapha, Nahomi Ichino -- III. Promoting Devolved Government for Equitable Sharing of Public Resources / Gustav Ranis, Daniel Posner -- IV. Bonding Ethnic Communities and Building National Cohesion / Germano Mwabu, Arnim Langer

Aim: Deliberations of the article revolve around trends of social capital under conditions of economic crisis.Motivation: Final conclusions are based on theoretical considerations and empirical research. The latter include analysis of changes in indicators of social capital (in the cognitive, structural and behavioural dimension) in Southern European countries (Spain, Greece and Portugal) — from comparative perspective — before and after 2007. Data from European Social Survey and European Value Study were used. The example of Southern European countries shows that there can be no universal reaction scheme (in terms of social capital) on the crisis phenomena.Results: A common feature of the analyzed countries after 2007 is an increase in ties with friends (bonding social capital, however the heightened importance may not just be a consequence of the crisis, but rather part of long-term societal change — e.g. Portugal) and a reduction in institutional and systemic trust. It can be also concluded that countries well endowed in social capital (e.g. Spain), in the period of economic crisis to the greater extent employ social capital resources as a response to non-beneficial changes in the economic environment (which is illustrated by higher rates of civic and political participation).

Aim: Deliberations of the article revolve around trends of social capital under conditions of economic crisis.Motivation: Final conclusions are based on theoretical considerations and empirical research. The latter include analysis of changes in indicators of social capital (in the cognitive, structural and behavioural dimension) in Southern European countries (Spain, Greece and Portugal) — from comparative perspective — before and after 2007. Data from European Social Survey and European Value Study were used. The example of Southern European countries shows that there can be no universal reaction scheme (in terms of social capital) on the crisis phenomena.Results: A common feature of the analyzed countries after 2007 is an increase in ties with friends (bonding social capital, however the heightened importance may not just be a consequence of the crisis, but rather part of long-term societal change — e.g. Portugal) and a reduction in institutional and systemic trust. It can be also concluded that countries well endowed in social capital (e.g. Spain), in the period of economic crisis to the greater extent employ social capital resources as a response to non-beneficial changes in the economic environment (which is illustrated by higher rates of civic and political participation).

Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we examined the impact of social contacts on immigrant occupational status and income. In addition to general social contacts, we also analyzed the effects of bonding (i.e., co-ethnic) and bridging (i.e., inter-ethnic) ties on economic outcomes. Results show that general social contacts have a positive effect on the occupational status and, in particular, annual income of immigrants. We also find that bridging ties with Germans lead to higher occupational status, but not to increased income. These effects remain visible even when social contacts are measured (at least) 1 year prior to the economic outcomes, as well as when earlier investments in German human capital are considered. Finally, we show that co-ethnic concentration in the region of residence weakly affects economic returns to German language proficiency and schooling.

I. Propositions Propositions of animal spirits are derived from literature. Due to a lack of clarity around animal spirits, the term has been used to describe three different things: inner drives, sentiments, and events of economic irrationality. Akerlof and Shiller laid the focus of their book Animal Spirits on responses, events of economic irrationality and sentiments. In contrast, this dissertation is based on Keynes' definition of animal spirits in the light of noneconomic motives and inner drives. The propositions strictly accord to the category of noneconomic motives. II. Testing the propositions Animal spirits have not been empirically tested before. In this dissertation the propositions are empirically tested on data of 20 entrepreneurs reporting on their ventures. Applying the qualitative content analysis, the noneconomic motives are analyzed and a list of seven animal spirits that drive entrepreneurial actions is established. III. Empirical evidence of 7 animal spirits The empirical data provide evidence of 7 animal spirits that drive entrepreneurs. 1. Independence - the drive for autonomy 2. Hunting - the drive to capture 3. Emulating - the drive for status 4. Competing - the drive to win 5. Bonding - the drive to belong 6. Curiosity - the drive to explore 7. Creating - the drive to build The drive for independence has not been proposed, however empirical evidence demanded it to be added to the list. Based on literature the animal spirit of defending was proposed, however it has not been found in any report of 20 entrepreneurs. Consequently it is not defined as an animal spirit that drives entrepreneurs. IV. Empirical evidence of patterns In different economic fields and industries entrepreneurs are driven by different patterns of animal spirits. Four groups are selected: Internet entrepreneurs, pioneer entrepreneurs, angel entrepreneurs and senior starters. For example, no angel investor is driven by the urge to create and exploration drive, but rather by a strong drive for independence in ...

The series of earthquakes and aftershocks affect Nepal in 2015. However, very few studies were carried out to assess and analyze the local-level impacts and responses. The present study focuses on impacts and responses to earthquakes in the Kirtipur Municipality based on secondary data and primary information generated from the open-ended questions to the purposively selected samples. Higher number of human casualties was observed among the elderly and children, but no such difference in terms of gender. The wards in core areas, particularly in Panga and Chovar, were affected the most because of century old houses without any disaster resistant technologies. The social bonding and cohesion were strongly observed during rescue and relief phases. The separated families united during the first two phases whereas the united families separated to nuclear families in recovery and reconstruction phases. The major reasons were main political transition, lack of financial resources and social factors.