Social capital geospatial network mapping for furniture-making: Impacts of long-term social bonds on city fabric and industry competitiveness

Abstract

Cities exhibit multi-layered networks of physical space, people and connection nodes. For cities with historically dominant industries, mutual influences between industrial patterns and livelihoods of residents are established over time. These connections become organically embedded in the city's spatial distribution. This paper examines social and industry inter-relationships among residents (Social Capital Network) of long-term furniture-making MSME-based economy in Damietta, Egypt. The research mapped the spatial network where the impact of economic connections on spatial patterns is investigated in terms of trust, networks and norms as the main constituents of social capital. This is based on mixed methods approach of qualitative investigation of the supply chain and urban patterns, and quantitative geospatial mapping of the results of an on-ground field survey. The mapped network comprised 967 nodes and 716 ties. The network characteristics showed a spatially dense network across the city's urban fabric, high levels of trust and norms, and multiple small-scale clustering patterns. Findings exhibit a closely knit local social network with clear links to spatial distribution of the industry's supply chain. The network patterns exhibit unique patterns to the livelihoods of the city's dwellers relevant to the social and urban way of life in Damietta.