Social capital is a concept that has been receiving considerable attention both within Australia and overseas. It is a subject of discussion and debate in both government and academic circles.

Social capital: relates to the resources available within communities as a consequence of networks of mutual support, reciprocity, trust and obligation.

It can be accumulated when people interact with each other in families, workplaces, neighbourhoods, local associations and through a range of informal and formal meeting places.

The central premise of social capital is that social networks have value.

According to Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone (external link) and the concept's leading exponent (though not its originator), Social capital "refers to the collective value of all 'social networks' and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other".

Find out more about social capital:

Measuring Social Capital

A discussion paper on measuring Social Capital can be downloaded here: Measuring Social Capital: Current Collections and Future Directions (2000) — (340 kb PDF).

Social Capital - Reviewing the Concept

The Australian Productivity Commission undertook to research the concept of social capital and its impact to public policy.

A copy of the document is available here: Productivity Commission 2003, Social Capital: Reviewing the Concept
and its Policy Implications, Research Paper. (external link)

Institute for Volunteering Research website

The Institute for Volunteering Research aims to develop knowledge and understanding of volunteering in a way that is relevant to practitioners and policy makers. The Institute's web site (external link) provides an overview of its work as well as detailed summaries of research undertaken.