Social capital in foreign Europe: territorial differentiation and impact on socio-economic development of regions and countries

Abstract

In the article, on the example of countries and regions of foreign Europe, the relationship between social capital and socio-economic development is considered. An assessment of social capital and its components (as intangible factors of development) for regions and countries of foreign Europe is given on the basis of primary sociological data from a study of values in Europe. Civic activity, intolerance, features of trust were studied. Geographical patterns of development of social capital are briefly lighted. The relationship between social capital of communities and social-economic development indicators at the level of regions and European countries has been studied. Regularities are revealed between geographical differences in social capital and differences in economic development, the quality of institutions and innovativeness across regions and countries of Europe. Bridging social capital has a positive effect on economic development, it improves the functioning of institutions and prevents the development of opportunism, it is common in economically developed regions and European countries. Innovative activity is most common in regions and countries with a predominance of bridging social capital. In the regions of Europe with the prevailing bonding social capital, the disunity of social groups and closed trust, crisis phenomena are more acutely felt.