Zastosowanie ujęcia funkcjonalnego do oceny zasobów kapitału społecznego w Polsce
Using Functional Approach in the Assessment of Social Capital Resources in Poland

Summary/Abstract: The concept of social capital is widely used and sometimes even abused), though the concept itself is quite vague and understood only intuitively. Nevertheless, it is assumed to be an important factor of economic growth and development. The major obstacle in empirical research is the difficulty in identifying and measuring social capital. These difficulties have their roots in the lack of a uniform and precise definition and different ways of interpreting the very substance of social capital. One of the basic questions is that it has not been agreed whether a positive or a normative approach should be used in reference to the above concept. Both approaches have their virtues and flaws. That is why some researchers opt for defining social capital through its functions (functional approach). The author is in favour of the functional approach and she applies it in the empirical study presented in the paper. The research is based on behavioural observation of over 1800 local communities in Poland participating in a competition for financial support provided by a private sponsor (cosmetic firm „Nivea”) in order to arrange and equip 100 playgrounds for children in various locations throughout the country. People’s attitudes are analysed in a special analysis showing the commitment of local communities to create such a common good, and the results are confronted with the classical measures of social capital. Thus, it is a case study showing the application of a functional approach in a comparative assessment of social capital resources in a spacial framework.

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