scholarly journals The Sharing Economy and Social Capital: The Fictional Expectations of Sociality in a Time Bank

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 128-155
Author(s):  
Майя Андреевна Шмидт
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Market Exchange ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Generalized Trust ◽  
Professional Activities ◽  
Explanatory Hypothesis ◽  
Time Bank

This article looks at time banking ­– a system of exchange in which people trade services with one another using time instead of money as currency. Time banking is framed from a social work perspective as a social innovation that contributes to poverty alleviation and increasing inclusion. However, most such organizations fail to institutionalize as care providers and fail within the first three years. In this paper, I discuss a rare success story—a time bank in Nizhny Novgorod, the fourth largest city in Russia—which has been functioning for over 15 years and positioned itself as a non-charitable organization. I engage with sharing economy studies—a growing but ambiguous field—to explain the success of the time bank in Nizhny Novgorod. Research in the sharing economy has mostly concentrated on two extreme cases: business-to-customer operations or grassroots communities practicing radical alternatives to market exchange. The case studies have been united by an assumption that sharing economy organizations would generate social capital. However, there has been limited evidence to support this claim. In this article, I aim to test this hypothesis and explore whether the informal networks, norms of reciprocity and trust that are fostered among members of the Nizhny Novgorod time bank are the factors that explain the sustainability of this association. The study is informed by 22 in-depth interviews with the gatekeepers and members of this community. In the interviews, I paid attention to the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and the structure of their social capital; the characteristics of the mode of exchange practiced in the community (the volume, direction, and range of services, the relatedness to professional activities and other spheres of life); their value set and worldview (egalitarianism, altruism, justice); and indicators of generalized trust. Results revealed that time bankers do not tend to create strong and sustainable relationships outside of the framework of the exchange. I put forward the following explanatory hypothesis: the calculativeness of time bankers, the market-driven valuations of ‘egalitarian’ service exchange and a unilateral attitude to the exchange are in conflict with a longing for Gemeinschaft—a community with strong bonding interdependence based on the norms of mutuality. This association failed to provide the conditions for generalized trust to emerge. The attempt to simultaneously create a tightly bonded community, but still answer the needs of the digital age resulted in a pastiche of a sharing economy platform. Beyond the case at hand, this study theorizes the rhetoric and reality of the sharing economy by summarizing the grounds for the expectations of generating social capital and explains why certain expectations could not be met.

scholarly journals Does Participation in Social Networks Foster Trust and Respect for Other People—Evidence from Poland

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Łopaciuk-Gonczaryk
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Generalized Trust ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family

A shortage of social capital may hinder sustainable development. According to the “social capital dream” there is a virtuous circle between participation in social networks, trust, and cooperation. It is a promising idea for proponents of sustainability, as it is easier to promote participation than affect social norms. Participation may, however, lead to particularized and not generalized trust, which hinders social inclusion and undermines the idea of a sustainable society. The aim of this paper is to validate the role of participation in informal and formal social networks in enhancing social trust and respect towards others. The relevance of both strong and weak ties is considered. Fixed-effects modeling on three-wave data from a Polish social survey is utilized. An increase in generalized trust corresponds with an increase in the acquaintances network, a decrease in the family and friends network, and an increase in volunteering. A rise in expectations about the cooperativeness of others is enhanced by an increase in the family and friends network, and by volunteering. The lack of respect for some groups of people is not affected by participation in organizations and informal networks. Overall within-person heterogeneity is small, suggesting that possibilities for fostering moral trust by participation are limited.

scholarly journals Dependency as Status: Older Adults’ Presentations of Self as Recipients of Care

SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402096359
Author(s):  
Virpi Timonen ◽  
Luciana Lolich
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Family Relations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Care And Support ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Supportive Family

We draw on Bourdieu’s and Goffman’s theories to elaborate the novel idea of dependency as status in old age, a concept that emerged from our Grounded Theory study conducted with 46 older adults (26 women and 20 men) living in and around Dublin, Ireland. The research participants’ portrayals of (in)dependence and assistance reflected their access to and use of social and symbolic (age) capital. Older adults derived social capital from supportive family relations or trusting relationships with formal care providers, and deployed such capital to signal their status as “cared for” individuals. Age capital—constructions of deservingness drawing on advanced age, age-related disabilities, and lifelong contributions—was used by older adults to frame and justify acceptance of help. We argue that where older adults are able to draw on age capital or social capital, they can signal their position as “cared for” individuals who display and acknowledge their dependency, and transform it into a marker of status. Conversely, some participants were keen to present themselves as independent. These participants made downward comparisons with others whom they saw as “worse off” or, in their view, as insufficiently responsible for their own health and well-being. In the contemporary Western frame, dependency is to be avoided at all costs, but we argue that some older people are able to embrace dependency in a way that reflects and demonstrates their status and agency. Care professionals and members of informal networks can make a significant difference to older persons’ acceptance of help, care, and support by offering services in a manner that affirms the care recipients’ worth and agency.

scholarly journals Social Capital, Innovation, and Local Resilience

Asian Studies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 283-313
Author(s):  
Heide Imai ◽  
Yao Ji
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Community Identity ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Resilient Communities ◽  
Local Resilience ◽  
Research Findings

This paper is based on research that centres on the city of Tokyo, a mature city that is experiencing various transformations, in order to show how social capital and innovation can help build up resilient communities. It presents two major topics: 1) the potential of localities and their social capital and social innovation to actively react to change, and 2) the role of localities for inclusive urban governance. By focusing on five small neighbourhoods in the south of Taito-ward in central-east Tokyo, the paper addresses the following questions: a) what kinds of social networks and interaction exist at the local level, b) how are residents contributing to neighbourhood revitalization and community identity, and c) what are specific examples of social innovative practices, emerging in periods of crisis, in the case-study area as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic? By adopting a mixed methods approach drawing especially on in-depth interviews conducted with a range of independent business owners, the study reveals the dynamics between long-term residents and newcomers as they negotiate shared identities that continue to shape the present and future of some of Tokyo’s oldest neighbourhoods. The research findings highlight the need for good urban governance to draw on an improved understanding of the potential of localities, place-based social capital building, and new social practices that are emerging in local third sectors, such as volunteer-run industry-based organizations, which are vital in maintaining informal networks as an alternative to more traditional neighbourhood groups to bond, bridge, and link diverse community members.

Understanding Knowledge Networks Through Social Network Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronel Davel ◽  
Adeline S. A. Du Toit ◽  
Martie M Mearns
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Knowledge Networks ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Process Map ◽  
Knowledge Maps

Social network analysis (SNA) is being increasingly deployed as an instrument to plot knowledge and expertise as well as to confirm the character of connections in informal networks within organisations. This study investigated how the integration of networking into KM can produce significant advantages for organisations. The aim of the research was to examine how the interactions between SNA, Communities of Practice (CoPs) and knowledge maps could potentially influence knowledge networks. The researchers endeavour to illustrate via this question that cultivating synergies between SNA, CoPs and knowledge maps will enable organisations to produce stronger knowledge networks and ultimately increase their social capital. This article intends to present a process map that can be useful when an organisation wants to positively increase its social capital by examining influencing interactions between SNA, CoPs and knowledge maps, thereby enhancing the manner in which they share and create knowledge.

scholarly journals Socio-technological system of sharing economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-215
Author(s):  
Amarjeet Singh ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Social Motives ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Comprehensive Framework

Sharing economy is a system which functions successfully provided that technological and social subsystems complement each other forming an indivisibly combined cohesive structure. The premise of balancing social and technological aspects is proposed in the socio-technological theory. Social issues call for social innovation to fulfil the needs and requirements of the society as well as individual citizens. The goal of this paper is to fill the gap in the extant literature by proposing a comprehensive framework of sharing economy based on the socio-technological theory. This study carried out a systematic literature review of works on sharing economy and socio-technological theory in order to develop a conceptual framework. There were identified different social motives associated with each of the subsystems; interplay between them was established. This study contributes to the increasing research by presenting a holistic view of sharing economy through the theoretical lens of socio-technology keeping society as well as consumer needs and requirements at its focal point.

scholarly journals AI Combine with Wishing Tree Hole, Spitting Tree Hole and Shared Time Bank

2021 ◽  
Vol 251 ◽  
pp. 02022
Author(s):  
Shih-Feng Chang ◽  
Wei-Zheng Zhang ◽  
Wan-Yin Liang ◽  
Jia-Yue Qiu ◽  
Sui Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Tree Hole ◽  
Time Bank ◽  
Shared Time ◽  
Education Support ◽  
Effective Use

Under the thinking of “sharing economy”, Wish Magic wants to create a platform called “shared time bank”, so that users of the platform can store their free time in the “shared time bank” platform in advance. Then, according to the precise docking of products and services as well as supply and demand, Wish Magic also carries out the “wishing tree hole” platform to effectively interact with users according to the latest news and wish list released by users, and regularly goes to poor areas to carry out relevant poverty alleviation activities, so as to provide education support for local people with educational needs and truly play the role of targeted poverty alleviation. In addition, in today’s situation of prevailing pressure, Wish Magic will also create a “spitting tree hole” platform to provide a space for everyone to spit and vent their negative energy, and provide advice for everyone in work, study, love or marriage and other aspects, and help to solve practical problems. The combination of these three platforms enable people to arrange their time reasonably, make effective use of resources, and help people improve their work efficiency and quality of life, so as to create greater economic and social benefits.

Social Capital and Diversity Generalized Trust, Social Cohesion and Regimes of Diversity

2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 709-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Hooghe
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Capital Social ◽  
Generalized Trust ◽  
Absolute Level ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
The Individual

Abstract.In recent years an impressive amount of evidence has been collected documenting a negative relationship between levels of ethnic diversity and social capital indicators, in particular generalized trust. In this article we raise a number of theoretical arguments that should be addressed before these findings can be generalized. First, it has to be remembered that most of these studies focus on generalized trust as a social capital indicator, while trust probably is most vulnerable for the effects of weakening homogeneity. Second, it is argued that in order to arrive at a better understanding of the relation between diversity and social capital, at least three intermediary variables need to be taken into account: 1) the question whether diversity entails segregation of networks at the individual level; 2) the increase in diversity rather than the absolute level; 3) the regimes societies use to govern diversity, and especially the variation with regard to the openness of these regimes. We close by exploring the suggestion that in more diverse societies, recognition of group differences and identities, and group relations based on equality-based concepts of reciprocity should be considered as potentially more meaningful strategies.Résumé.Dans les dernières années, une quantité impressionnante de preuves ont été rassemblées, qui documentent une relation négative entre le niveau de diversité ethnique et les indicateurs de capital social, en particulier la confiance généralisée. Dans cet article, nous soulevons un certain nombre d'arguments théoriques qu'il faut examiner avant de pouvoir généraliser ces résultats. D'abord il faut noter que la plupart de ces études se sont concentrées sur la confiance généralisée comme indicateur de capital social alors que la confiance est probablement particulièrement vulnérable aux effets d'une érosion de l'homogénéité. Deuxièmement, nous avançons que, pour mieux comprendre la relation entre diversité et capital social, trois variables intermédiaires au moins doivent être prises en considération : 1) l'existence d'une ségrégation des réseaux au niveau individuel du fait de la diversité; 2) l'augmentation de la diversité plutôt que son niveau absolu; 3) les régimes que les sociétés utilisent pour gouverner la diversité et surtout le degré d'ouverture de ces régimes. Pour finir, nous explorons la suggestion que, dans des sociétés plus diverses, la reconnaissance des différences et identités des groupes, et des relations inter-groupes basées sur des concepts d'égalité et de réciprocité devraient être considérées comme des stratégies potentiellement plus significatives.

Platform social enterprises as a new model for co-production

2020 ◽  
pp. 61-86
Author(s):  
Maurizio Busacca ◽  
Flaviano Zandonai
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
New Governance ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Development Trajectory ◽  
Relational Systems ◽  
Governance Models ◽  
Use Of Knowledge

The paper analyses the mechanisms of organisational integration in two social enterprises characterised by a strong orientation towards the creation and management of networks with the aim of gaining useful learning in the framework of the emerging debate on production and governance models that characterise platform organisations, in particular in the digital context. In order to do this, it deepens the dimensions of leadership, organisational knowledge and production in two Italian cases: Le Case del Quartiere, a network of social infrastructures in Turin, and TreCuori, a company and territorial welfare agency in Veneto. The two cases are analysed according to the literature of organisational studies which, since the 1980s, has deepened the issue of the progressive narrowing of organisational boundaries and the increase in interdependence between units and organisations variously located with respect to those boundaries. The main evidence that emerged from the case studies are two. The first, in contrast with the rhetoric of disintermediation associated with the sharing economy, identifies the key role of intermediaries who position themselves as third parties with respect to the demand and supply of goods and services in order to facilitate their meeting and, at the same time, foster the mechanisms of entrepreneurial use of knowledge and relationships. The second, with significant theoretical implications, identifies the "platform social enterprise" as an organisational model that introduces strong traits of cooperation in the relational systems that characterise mainstream platform-enterprises. The findings of the investigation offer an original contribution to the convergence between social innovation, collaborative economics and new governance models studies, with a shift from "platform capitalism" to "platform cooperativism" by organizations that use place-based social innovation models and give importance not only to relational and political-cultural factors, but also to co-production, co-working, collaboration and networking. Observed from this perspective, the platform social enterprise becomes a model to be more considered in order to propose a more cooperative, sustainable and democratic development trajectory of platforms.

Schools as Driver of Social Innovation and Territorial Development

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 64-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Giovannella
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Life Skills ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Systemic Approach ◽  
Territorial Development ◽  
Adequate Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Key Issues

This contribution is intended to describe the rationale of a project, in progress, that aims at recovering the centrality of the school through a systemic approach adopting the Design Based Learning as an operative framework of reference capable to foster: (a) the acquisition of an adequate level of LIFE skills by all actors of the learning process (students, teachers, etc.); (b) meaningful collaboration and participation, aimed at achieving social and territorial development; (c) an increase of the social capital. Key issues related to the implementation of the framework and to the training of the teachers expected to manage the process are discussed and recommendation given.

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