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Can ethno-linguistic diversity explain cross-country differences in social capital?: A global perspective
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 20:57 authored by Wang, C, Steiner, BMotivated by the inconclusiveness of empirical studies on the relationship between ethno‐linguistic diversity and social capital (SC) at various levels of regional aggregation, this paper provides new evidence on the relationship between the two variables at a global scale. A cross‐sectional analysis of 68 developed and developing countries applying two‐stage least squares estimations suggests not only that the cognitive dimension of SC (shared codes and languages) is highly important for SC formation across regional origin, but also that countries with a greater degree of linguistic fractionalisation have a lower SC stock. In particular, countries with fractionalized ethnic and linguistic groups, as captured by number of languages and measures of linguistic diversity, tend to have lower levels of social trust, fewer memberships in social organisations, and deteriorated social norms and structures. The negative ethnic fractionalisation effect on SC is also found weaker in higher‐income and in non‐African countries.
History
Publication title
The Economic RecordVolume
91Issue
294Pagination
338-366ISSN
0013-0249Department/School
TSBEPublisher
Economic Soc Of Australia Brown Prior Anderson Pty LtdPlace of publication
5 Evans St, Burwood Victoria, Australia, 3125Rights statement
© 2015 Economic Society of AustraliaRepository Status
- Restricted