Understanding Social Capital, Networks & Institutions: A Guide to Support Compost Entrepreneurship for Rural Development

Compost micro-entrepreneurship has been used as strategy to increase the incomes of poor and rural farming communities. Nevertheless, several difficulties can arise to sustain these small businesses. The conversion of organic material into compost requires labor, tools and infrastructure. Many poor and rural microenterprises cannot afford all of these inputs to sustain operations. Literature suggests that social capital and collective action can address challenges related to limited resources for communities and small businesses. Little research, however, has explored how coworker characteristics and their cooperative efforts affect the financial sustainability of compost micro-enterprises. The objective of this study was to unveil whether rural compost microenterprises use social capital and/or collective action to address various challenges related to natural and financial capital, and if so, in what manner. A multisite case study framework was implemented using participant observation to identify common challenges faced by compost microenterprises in Chimaltenanago, Guatemala. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine if coworker characteristics (related to social capital) addressed these challenges, and if so, how. Four characteristics related to social capital emerged from a thematic analysis, including 1) raw material access based on coworker occupation, 2) overhead savings from human capital, 3) credit/market-entry granted from social networks, and 4) consumer trust gained from social capital/gender. It appears the investigation and development of compost microenterprises should be more cognizant of opportunities related to coworker characteristics, especially those related to social capital and collective action. As a result, management training can be integrated within entrepreneurship development to sustain urban and rural economies.

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Social Capital in Development: Bonds, Bridges, and Links in Osa and Golfito, Costa Rica

Human Organization ◽

10.17730/0018-7259-74.3.217 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 74 (3) ◽

pp. 217-229 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Carter A. Hunt ◽

William H. Durham ◽

Claire M. Menke

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Collective Action ◽

Field Research ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Leaders ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Sustainable Rural Development ◽

Development Interventions ◽

Local Residents

Limited social capital poses a critical bottleneck for sustainable rural development. Despite vast investment, development interventions focused on preserving the biodiversity of the Osa and Golfito region of Costa Rica have done little to address poverty or improve the well-being of local residents. The authors of the current study draw upon field research and data gathered from semi-structured interviews with 310 community leaders and rural residents to investigate the bottlenecks to development and how they are related to forms of social capital in the Osa and Golfito cantons in Costa Rica. Specifically, we draw upon the distinction of bonding, bridging, and linking forms of social capital to characterize the nature of benefits from collective action in communities in Osa and Golfito. The data suggest that the lack of bridging and linking forms of social capital may explain the region's persistent development challenges and may thus indicate where development-related investments are most likely to bear fruit.

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Building Social Capital

Putting Purpose Into Practice ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198870708.003.0011 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 154-162

Author(s):

Marcel Fafchamps

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Firm Performance ◽

Collective Action ◽

Interest Groups ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Farming Communities ◽

Exchange Of Information ◽

The World ◽

Common Purpose

Chapter 11 notes that social capital can be detrimental as well as beneficial to firm performance if it encourages allegiances outside the firm, for example, in the form of corruption and nepotism. Avoiding this requires creating a sense of common purpose and values that embrace partners rather than either exploiting them or pandering to particular interest groups. Three indicators of social capital appear to be particularly important: (a) inclusion and cohesion; (b) trust, solidarity, and reciprocity, and (c) collective action and cooperation. They account for a high proportion of social capital in vulnerable farming communities around the world and they are associated with the productivity of these communities. There is also evidence of a relationship between these measures of social capital, exchange of information and learning, and adoption of new agricultural practices.

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Together we Can: Collective Organization of Artists in Beijing

10.31124/advance.7376105 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Corey Willis

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

Collective Action ◽

Social Movement ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Social Movement Theory ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Movement Theory ◽

Shared Identity ◽

Contemporary Chinese

This study undertakes an analysis of the experiences of Contemporary Chinese artists engaged in collective organization in China’s burgeoning art districts in Beijing. A new conceptual framework is employed in this study which integrates theory from social movement theory and collective action. I explore generally the issues and strategies of collective organization in China, and specifically, analyze the development of a recently founded organization, the Chinese Independent Artist Alliance (CIAA). Data is collected through participant observation as well as through semi-structured interviews of the founders of the CIAA. Data analysis stretches beyond the scope of the main actors within the CIAA into a sphere representing over 1000 artists, academics and activists in China. Findings suggest that individual motivations for joining and supporting the CIAA artist collective differ substantially however, the various political and economic pressures faced by artists create a shared identity among CIAA participants acting as glue holding the collective together. <div><br></div>

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Commons as Demanding Social Constructions: The Case of Aquifers in Rural Karnataka

International Journal of Rural Management ◽

10.1177/0973005220945428 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 097300522094542

Author(s):

Frédéric Landy ◽

Laurent Ruiz ◽

Julie Jacquet ◽

Audrey Richard-Ferroudji ◽

M. Sekhar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Collective Action ◽

Sustainable Management ◽

Participant Observation ◽

National Policy ◽

Legal Framework ◽

Social Constructions ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Aquifer Management ◽

Interdisciplinary Project ◽

Vested Interests

It is only recently that research on Indian groundwater has considered a perspective in terms of commons. ATCHA, an interdisciplinary project that includes among others hydrology, crop modelling and remote sensing analysis, includes such a lens in its study of the Berambadi watershed, Karnataka, India. Participant observation, semi-structured interviews and focus groups have shown that the local aquifers are not managed as a commons, and brought into light several factors hindering collective action. In this paper, these factors are reconsidered, in particular through Ostrom’s criteria. The national policy is currently trying to define a new legal framework for more sustainable management of the resource, but this new law is not known to users and it seems difficult to implement because it calls into question too many vested interests. We argue for aquifer management committees, which could be an intermediary between national policy orientations and users who are (rationally) not endorsing collective action.

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The Role of Social Capital of Riau Women Farmer Groups in Building Collective Action for Tropical Peatland Restoration

Forest and Society ◽

10.24259/fs.v5i2.12089 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 341-351

Author(s):

Ashaluddin Jalil ◽

Yesi Yesi ◽

Seger Sugiyanto ◽

Dyah Puspitaloka ◽

Herry Purnomo

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Collective Action ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Household Survey ◽

Family Welfare ◽

Peatland Restoration ◽

Trust And Reciprocity ◽

Farmer Groups ◽

The Government ◽

Key Informant Interview

Collective action is important when the activities and costs of restoration cannot all be internalized by the government or when urgent maintenance is required beyond the scope of the restoration project. Collective action can be influenced by social capital. In this study, we examine components of social capital and the factors that affect them. Using key informant interview, household survey, and participant observation, we also identify the extent to which social capital is related to collective action. We found that women farmer groups have high social capital, which has led to strong collective action. Social capital in Dompas’ women groups is characterized by the norms of trust and reciprocity. Strong trust and reciprocity are driven by shared culture and values and supported by kinship. Social capital arises from and is reflected in the interactions between individuals in the group. It is naturally embedded within the community, supported by strong motivation and commitment, primarily to improve the family welfare. The social capital established influenced and drove collective action, which contributes to successful management of the women farmer groups’ action arena. This paper highlights the evidence of social capital and its relation to collective action in a case from restoration in the Global South. We suggest that for a restoration action to successfully mobilize voluntary, active participation from the community, the intervention should be designed with an emphasis on establishing social capital.

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Together we Can: Collective Organization of Artists in Beijing

10.31124/advance.7376105.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Corey Willis

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

Collective Action ◽

Social Movement ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Social Movement Theory ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Movement Theory ◽

Shared Identity ◽

Contemporary Chinese

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Economic Significance of Social Capital

Voprosy Ekonomiki ◽

10.32609/0042-8736-2011-12-46-65 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 46-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

L. Polishchuk ◽

R. Menyashev

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Collective Action ◽

Common Good ◽

Economic Conditions ◽

Formal Institutions ◽

Transmission Channels ◽

Economic Significance ◽

Bonding And Bridging ◽

The Impact

The paper deals with economics of social capital which is defined as the capacity of society for collective action in pursuit of common good. Particular attention is paid to the interaction between social capital and formal institutions, and the impact of social capital on government efficiency. Structure of social capital and the dichotomy between its bonding and bridging forms are analyzed. Social capital measurement, its economic payoff, and transmission channels between social capital and economic outcomes are discussed. In the concluding section of the paper we summarize the results of our analysis of the role of social capital in economic conditions and welfare of Russian cities.

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Peregrinação Acadêmica: A mulher Romeira do Bom Jesus da Lapa

10.31012/978-65-86854-04-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sandra Célia Coelho Gomes da Silva

Keyword(s):

Gender Identity ◽

Social Reproduction ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Female Gender ◽

Age Group ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

The West ◽

Patriarchal Family ◽

The Family ◽

West Part

This work is the result of the doctoral thesis entitled Pilgrimage of Bom Jesus da Lapa: Social Reproduction of the Family and Female Gender Identity, specifically the second chapter that talks about women in the Pilgrimage of Bom Jesus da Lapa, emphasizing gender relations, analyzing the location of the pilgrimage as a social reproduction of the patriarchal family and female gender identity. The research scenario is the Bom Jesus da Lapa Pilgrimage, which has been held for 329 years, in that city, located in the West part of Bahia. The research participants are pilgrim women who are in the age group between 50 and 70 years old and have participated, for more than five consecutive years in the Bom Jesus da Lapa Pilgrimage, belonging to five Brazilian states (Bahia, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Espírito Santo and Goiás) that register a higher frequency of attendance at this religious event. We used bibliographic, qualitative, field and documentary research and data collection as our methodology; we applied participant observation and semi-structured interviews as a technique. We concluded that the Bom Jesus da Lapa Pilgrimage is a location for family social reproduction and the female gender identity, observing a contrast in the resignification of the role and in the profile of the pilgrim women from Bom Jesus da Lapa, alternating between permanence and the transformation of gender identity coming from patriarchy.

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TOURISM MOBILITY AT THE SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES RIO 2016

Event Management ◽

10.3727/152599519x15506259856624 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Amanda Cabral ◽

Carolin Lusby ◽

Ricardo Uvinha

Keyword(s):

Olympic Games ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Field Research ◽

Bus Rapid Transit ◽

Rapid Transit ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Tourist Attractions ◽

Official Sources ◽

The Relationship ◽

The City

Sports Tourism as a segment is growing exponentially in Brazil. The sports mega-events that occurred in the period from 2007 to 2016 helped strengthen this sector significantly. This article examined tourism mobility during the Summer Olympic Games Rio 2016, hosted by the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This study expands the understanding of the relationship between tourism and city infrastructure, therefore being relevant to academics, professionals of the area and to the whole society due to its multidisciplinary field. The existence of a relationship between means of transportation and the Olympic regions as well as tourist attractions for a possible legacy was observed. Data were collected from official sources, field research and through participant-observation and semi structured interviews. Data were coded and analyzed. The results indicate that the city was overall successful in its execution of sufficient mobility. New means of transportation were added and others updated. BRT's (Bus Rapid Transit) were the main use of mass transport to Olympic sites. However, a lack of public transport access was observed for the touristic sites.

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Responsibility for chemical exposures: perspectives from small beauty salons and auto shops in southern metropolitan Tucson

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10336-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Amanda A. Lee ◽

Maia Ingram ◽

Carolina Quijada ◽

Andres Yubeta ◽

Imelda Cortez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Small Businesses ◽

Chemical Exposure ◽

The United States ◽

Power Structures ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Chemical Exposures ◽

Study Partner ◽

Chemical Products ◽

Beauty Salons ◽

Exposure Risks

Abstract Background Throughout the United States, low-wage, minority workers are disproportionately affected by occupational illnesses and injuries. Chronic exposure to hazardous chemicals at work can lead to serious illnesses, contributing to health inequities. In this article, we expand on theories of ‘responsibilization’ in an occupational health context to reveal how responsibilities for workplace chemical exposures are negotiated by workers and owners in Latinx-owned small businesses. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with a total of 22 workers and owners in auto repair shops and beauty salons – two high-risk industries – in Southern Metropolitan Tucson. Participants were asked about their insights into workplace chemical exposures and health. A qualitative analysis team with representation from all study partner organizations collectively coded and reviewed the interview data in QSR International’s NVivo 11 and identified overarching themes across the interviews. Results We identified three primary themes: 1) ambivalence toward risks in the workplace; 2) shifting responsibilities for exposure protection at work; and 3) reflections on the system behind chemical exposure risks. Participants discussed the complexities that small businesses face in reducing chemical exposures. Conclusions Through our analysis of the interviews, we examine how neoliberal occupational and environmental policies funnel responsibility for controlling chemical exposures down to individuals in small businesses with limited resources, obscuring the power structures that maintain environmental health injustices. We conclude with a call for upstream policy changes that more effectively regulate and hold accountable the manufacturers of chemical products used daily by small business workers.

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