Category Archives: Social Capital

Stigler’s List and Social Capital

Posted on March 22, 2009 by andrewleigh

I just reviewed an edited collection on social capital for the Economic Record, and kicked off with what I think might be the standard economic response to most books of this type: George Stigler once observed that economists’ objections are … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics Generally, Social Capital | Comments Off on Stigler’s List and Social Capital

Success has many parents…

Posted on April 30, 2008 by andrewleigh

Last week, I wrote up the 2020 summit idea of providing a HECS discount in exchange for volunteering in a disadvantaged community. In today’s Higher Ed section of the Australian, Andrew Darbyshire claims credit for the notion. I don’t doubt that … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics of Education, Social Capital | 2 Comments

In my wild erratic fancy, visions come to me of Clancy

Posted on November 16, 2007 by andrewleigh

Do you think that rural Australians are more likely to trust one another? I did. But a new experiment from the CSIRO suggests otherwise. An experimental approach to comparing trust in pastoral and non-pastoral Australia McAllister RRJ, Reeson AF It … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Capital | 6 Comments

Klanonomics

Posted on September 21, 2007 by andrewleigh

Another terrific paper from Steven Levitt – this one coauthored with Roland Fryer, one of America’s top young economists. They’ve turned their attention to the economics of the KKK. Hatred and Profits: Getting Under the Hood of the Ku Klux Klan … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Capital, US Politics | 1 Comment

Diversity and Trust

Posted on June 17, 2007 by andrewleigh

Robert Putnam has published his first piece of research in his project on the negative relationship between ethnic diversity and social capital. This has been a long-running research agenda for Putnam (I worked for him on it as a research … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Capital | 2 Comments

Me, myself and I

Posted on February 7, 2007 by andrewleigh

Vibewire is currently hosting a debate between Ryan Heath (.com.au) and Daniel Donahoo (.com) over individualism versus community. I’d like to see slightly longer contributions from each of them (the conversation is a bit staccato at present), but it’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Capital | Comments Off on Me, myself and I

Media diversity

Posted on January 31, 2007 by andrewleigh

In case  you missed it the first time around, today’s Australian runs a version of my paper on trust and diversity. I’ll be talking about it on the Life Matters program this morning at about 9am. (On an unrelated note, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics Generally, Social Capital | 15 Comments

Defining "us"

Posted on October 11, 2006 by andrewleigh

For a number of years, Harvard Professor Robert Putnam has been working on the issue of ethnic diversity and social capital. During that time, he’s spoken about the research at a host of “closed door” seminars, including one I organised … Continue reading →

Posted in From the Frontiers, Social Capital | 16 Comments

Trustworthy grandma, trusting granddaughter

Posted on April 25, 2006 by andrewleigh

We understand surprisingly little about why some people trust, and others do not. Eric Uslaner takes us a step closer: Where You Stand Depends Upon Where Your Grandparents Sat: The Inheritability of Generalized Trust Generalized trust is a stable value … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Capital | 1 Comment