Social Capital: An Insight Revealed or a Concept Too Many?

An introduction to social capital and a ‘state of the art’ analysis is provided. Attention is drawn to disagreements in use of the term, particularly between its innate and planned, individual and collective natures. It is argued that no inconsistency exists, rather it is a multifaceted concept. Alternative measurement techniques are discussed, along with pointers from historical research, and the principal economic effects of social capital. We conclude with recommendations for future research directions.