Social capital and the reproduction of economic inequality in polarized societies

This paper explores the idea of how wealth is distributed across social groups (ethnic or language groups, gender, etc.) and how such distribution fundamentally affects the evolution of economic inequality. By providing microfoundations suitable for this exploration, the paper hopes to enhance the u...

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Main Authors: Mogues, Tewodaj, Carter, Michael R.
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2005
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160680
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author Mogues, Tewodaj
Carter, Michael R.
author_browse Carter, Michael R.
Mogues, Tewodaj
author_facet Mogues, Tewodaj
Carter, Michael R.
author_sort Mogues, Tewodaj
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper explores the idea of how wealth is distributed across social groups (ethnic or language groups, gender, etc.) and how such distribution fundamentally affects the evolution of economic inequality. By providing microfoundations suitable for this exploration, the paper hopes to enhance the understanding of when social forces contribute to the reproduction of economic inequality. In tackling this issue, the paper offers contributions in two domains. First, it models social capital as a real capital asset with direct use and collateral value. Second, it extends the concepts of identity, alienation and polarization used by Esteban and Ray (1994). This generalization permits consideration of the multiple characteristics that shape social identity, inclusion and exclusion. It also underwrites a higher-order measure of socioeconomic polarization that permits exploration of the hypothesis that economic inequality is most pernicious and persistent when it is socially embedded. Among other things the paper shows that holding constant the initial levels of economic polarization and wealth inequality, higher socioeconomic polarization increases subsequent income and wealth inequality. Far from being a distributionally neutral panacea for missing markets, social capital in this model may itself generate exclusion and deepen social and economic cleavages.
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spelling CGSpace1606802025-11-06T05:40:51Z Social capital and the reproduction of economic inequality in polarized societies Mogues, Tewodaj Carter, Michael R. equality social capital economic distribution social networks This paper explores the idea of how wealth is distributed across social groups (ethnic or language groups, gender, etc.) and how such distribution fundamentally affects the evolution of economic inequality. By providing microfoundations suitable for this exploration, the paper hopes to enhance the understanding of when social forces contribute to the reproduction of economic inequality. In tackling this issue, the paper offers contributions in two domains. First, it models social capital as a real capital asset with direct use and collateral value. Second, it extends the concepts of identity, alienation and polarization used by Esteban and Ray (1994). This generalization permits consideration of the multiple characteristics that shape social identity, inclusion and exclusion. It also underwrites a higher-order measure of socioeconomic polarization that permits exploration of the hypothesis that economic inequality is most pernicious and persistent when it is socially embedded. Among other things the paper shows that holding constant the initial levels of economic polarization and wealth inequality, higher socioeconomic polarization increases subsequent income and wealth inequality. Far from being a distributionally neutral panacea for missing markets, social capital in this model may itself generate exclusion and deepen social and economic cleavages. 2005 2024-11-21T09:51:34Z 2024-11-21T09:51:34Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160680 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Mogues, Tewodaj; Carter, Michael R. Social capital and the reproduction of economic inequality in polarized societies. DSGD Discussion Paper 25. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160680
spellingShingle equality
social capital
economic distribution
social networks
Mogues, Tewodaj
Carter, Michael R.
Social capital and the reproduction of economic inequality in polarized societies
title Social capital and the reproduction of economic inequality in polarized societies
title_full Social capital and the reproduction of economic inequality in polarized societies
title_fullStr Social capital and the reproduction of economic inequality in polarized societies
title_full_unstemmed Social capital and the reproduction of economic inequality in polarized societies
title_short Social capital and the reproduction of economic inequality in polarized societies
title_sort social capital and the reproduction of economic inequality in polarized societies
topic equality
social capital
economic distribution
social networks
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160680
work_keys_str_mv AT moguestewodaj socialcapitalandthereproductionofeconomicinequalityinpolarizedsocieties
AT cartermichaelr socialcapitalandthereproductionofeconomicinequalityinpolarizedsocieties