Ethnicity, Social Capital and the Internet

This article explores web sites developed to express the interests and experiences of young Chinese people in Britain. Drawing on content analysis of site discussions and dialogues with site users, we argue these new communicative practices are best understood through a reworking of the social capital problematic. Firstly by recognising the irreducibility of Internet-mediated connections to the calculative instrumentalism underlying many applications of social capital theory. Secondly, by providing a more differentiated account of social capital. The interactions we explore comprise a specifically “second generation” form of social capital, cutting across the binary of bonding and bridging social capital. Thirdly judgement on the social capital consequences of Internet interactions must await a longer-term assessment of whether British Chinese institutions emerge to engage with the wider polity.

Can minority language proficiency pay: a study on the return on English-Spanish fluent bilingualism in South Florida

This thesis studies the economic return for fluent-bilingualism in South Florida among native-born whites using IPUMS (Integrated Public Use Microdata Series) data for Miami-Dade County (1990). Previous mainstream-oriented theories focus on the benefit in English acquisition for immigrants and their descendants, either denying or ignoring the possible benefit of minority language retention in addition to English acquisition. An alternative literature, on the other hand, suggests that minority language retention can be beneficial in at least three areas: 1) enhancing cognitive ability; 2) accessing community-level social capital; and 3) serving as human capital. This study assesses economic returns in employment and earnings, using logistic and OLS (Ordinary Least Square) regression respectively. The results, countering the mainstream-oriented theories, suggest that fluent bilingualism does have economic consequences. Rather than fully supporting the positive effects thesis, the patterns shown are much more complicated, contingent on an individual's ethnic membership and educational level. Theoretical and substantive implications are discussed and suggestions for future research are made.

Essays on risk-taking in corporate finance

This thesis consists of three independent essays on risk-taking in corporate finance. The first essay explores how community-level social capital (CSC), framed as a cultural characteristic of individuals born in different provinces of Italy, affects investment behavior in equity crowdfunding. Results show that investors born in high-CSC provinces invest more money in ventures characterized by an enhanced risk profile. Observed risk-taking is theoretically linked to higher generalized trust endowed to people born in high-CSC areas. The second essay focuses on how convexity of Chief Financial Officers’ stock options affects their hedging decisions in the oil and gas industry. Highly convex CFOs hedge less commodity price risk, even if the Chief Executive Officer’s incentives are consistent with a more conservative hedging strategy. Finally, the third essay is a systematic literature review on how different sources of compensation-based risk-taking incentives of Chief Executive Officers affect decision-making in corporate finance.

Capital social e ações conjuntas: um estudo de caso no arranjo produtivo local de vinhos de altitude catarinense

The general goal of this study was to analyze the relations between the agents’ social capital and joint actions developed by the Cluster of wine produced at the high altitudes of Santa Catarina. This group is made up of 43 agents: one governing agent, 26 support agents and 16 winemakers. This descriptive and exploratory study uses data from qualitative and quantitative approaches. During the exploratory phase, a documental analysis was carried out, as well as semi-structured interviews. The data collection tool used to gather information concerning the social capital and joint actions was the semi-structured questionnaire, and this data gathering was conducted through field research using a structured interview with the selected agents from November 16 to November 26, 2015. The results of this study show a good social capital, which reflects on the joint actions done by the agents. Among the variables of social capital, trust shows a great level among the Cluster agents, followed by good levels concerning commitment and involvement, information share, rules and sanctions, horizontality and authority and improvement. As a result, it has created a nice level of involvement and effectiveness of joint actions, highlighting events organization, joint participation at fairs and events, marketing campaigns, development of products and processes, and human resources improvement. There is a small group of agents who show a strong social capital and a proper environment to expand this capital throughout the network. However, the evaluation concerning reciprocity and density represents only one third of the possibilities of this group, and it happens especially because of the geographical distance between the agents who are part of the Cluster. The main limitation of this study was the trouble trying to map the whole agent group before applying the questionnaires and identifying the responsible people in each of the support agents to inform everything correctly. It is suggested that these questionnaires be carried out with other Clusters as well as in the future in order to have a temporal assessment of this study.

Desenvolvimento local e capital social: uma análise interdisciplinar do processo de indução do DLIS no Estado de Roraima

Uma nova tendência em termos de ações para o desenvolvimento vem se configurando. Trata-se de ações que levam em conta o território e seus atores. Nesse âmbito, insere-se a metodologia de indução do Desenvolvimento Local Integrado e Sustentável (DLIS). Esse Programa de política pública se constitui uma estratégia participativa de indução do desenvolvimento, pela qual se mobilizam recursos das comunidades, que em parceria com o Estado (em seus três níveis) e o mercado, realizam diagnósticos, identificam potencialidades e vocações, elaboram planos integrados de desenvolvimento, na perspectiva de envolvimento dos sujeitos como proponentes e protagonistas da ação social em seus territórios. Com este trabalho, buscou-se compreender a multidimensionalidade do processo de DLIS, no estado de Roraima, procurando, ao mesmo tempo, o estabelecimento de um nexo causal entre as trajetórias sócio-econômicas (resultados) do DLIS e o capital social. A pesquisa se enquadrou na modalidade qualitativa. Adotou-se como estratégia metodológica o estudo de caso, envolvendo os municípios de Rorainópolis, Uiramutã, Baliza e Pacaraima. Três dimensões analítico-contextuais foram adotadas, quais sejam: conceitual, de implementação e de impacto. Na avaliação do capital social, as variáveis participação, confiança, cooperação e redes foram consideradas. Na interpretação dos dados, as seguintes abordagens foram utilizadas: análise contextual, análise descritiva, análise das diferenças de proporções e análise de correspondência. Os resultados da pesquisa revelaram que alguns conceitos e categorias adotados pelo Programa, embora relevantes, apresentam alguma ordem de problema. Dois municípios, Rorainópolis e Uiramutã, foram considerados municípios de bons resultados. Isso porque atenderam a um conjunto de questões que expressavam condições desejáveis para que o desenvolvimento local integrado e sustentável, em suas múltiplas dimensões, se efetivasse. Por seu turno, os municípios de Baliza e Pacaraima foram classificados como municípios de maus resultados. Os resultados do DLIS em Rorainópolis e Uiramutã estão associados ao capital social (relação positiva). A despeito da extensa literatura que trata da relevância desse tema, não se têm, ainda, instrumentos satisfatórios para medir capital social. Nesse contexto, entendese que estes resultados representam, de fato, uma aproximação.

La buena hora del desarrollo local: un diagnóstico sobre los factores que afectan el capital social, el desarrollo local y la participación en el barrio Juan XXIII en Medellín

Este trabajo de tesis pretende abordar en el primer capítulo el problema que se vive localmente en la periferia de la ciudad de Medellín en donde las políticas públicas que son implementadas desde la municipalidad en los territorios administrativos no siempre dejan capacidades instaladas en las comunidades territoriales, en especial las de generación de empleo y emprendimiento -- Se analiza también la dificultad de convocatoria de la ciudadanía, que no logra participar activamente tanto en los programas ofrecidos como en la generación de propuestas participativas -- En este capítulo se evidencia la necesidad de activar el capital social a través de iniciativas locales de fortalecimiento del voluntariado a través de transacciones no monetarizadas -- Se plantea la necesidad de detectar redes de confianza, de reconocer potencialidades y talentos para potenciar ese capital social, y se analiza la propuesta de implementación de una estrategia como herramienta para el diagnóstico y lectura de la realidad, a una comunidad de un territorio específico de la ciudad desde sus propias experiencias -- En el capítulo tres se revisan los conceptos de desarrollo humano, desarrollo a escala humana y desarrollo local, así como el de capital social como indicadores de bienestar social, y la relación de éstos con la participación ciudadana y la política pública -- En los siguientes capítulos se presentan los resultados y las conclusiones de la investigación y se hacen algunas recomendaciones para implementaciones futuras que podrían orientar perspectivas empíricas que sustenten programas y políticas públicas coherentes con las exigencias locales

Contributos legislativos para a criação de empresas cooperativas: a livre fixação do capital social

Num contexto em que as dinâmicas europeias em matéria de empreendedorismo e empresas sociais apelam à melhoria do ambiente legal, este estudo debruça-se sobre a oportunidade da consagração do princípio da livre fixação nos estatutos da cooperativa do montante do capital social. Esta solução legislativa permitirá reduzir os custos de contexto para a constituição da cooperativa e evitar o risco de fuga para formas societárias com regimes mais favoráveis em matéria de capital social mínimo. Constata-se que nas cooperativas, mais intensamente do que nas sociedades comerciais, o capital social mínimo não desempenha eficientemente as funções que lhe são tradicionalmente atribuídas. Conclui-se, igualmente, que a avaliação do nível de capitalização das cooperativas não pode atender apenas a este instituto, devendo ter em conta o património da cooperativa ressalvado para garantia dos credores, com particular destaque para a reserva legal.

The Importance of Revenue Sharing for the Local Economic Impacts of a Renewable Energy Project: A Social Accounting Matrix Approach

As demand for electricity from renewable energy sources grows, there is increasing interest, and public and financial support, for local communities to become involved in the development of renewable energy projects. In the UK, “Community Benefit” payments are the most common financial link between renewable energy projects and local communities. These are “goodwill” payments from the project developer for the community to spend as it wishes. However, if an ownership stake in the renewable energy project were possible, receipts to the local community would potentially be considerably higher. The local economic impacts of these receipts are difficult to quantify using traditional Input-Output techniques, but can be more appropriately handled within a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) framework where income flows between agents can be traced in detail. We use a SAM for the Shetland Islands to evaluate the potential local economic and employment impact of a large onshore wind energy project proposed for the Islands. Sensitivity analysis is used to show how the local impact varies with: the level of Community Benefit payments; the portion of intermediate inputs being sourced from within the local economy; and the level of any local community ownership of the project. By a substantial margin, local ownership confers the greatest economic impacts for the local community.

El paper del capital social en l'organització d'esdeveniments

La intenció d'aquest article és detallar l'abast del capital social als esdeveniments culturals celebrats a Catalunya i analitzar la influència sobre l'atracció turística dels mateixos. Es pretén determinar també quin és l'impacte que tres elements de capital social que intervenen en l'organització d'esdeveniments (elements de motivació, creació de xarxes internes i lideratge) tenen sobre el sector turístic local. L'estudi parteix d'una mostra de 263 esdeveniments als quals s'ha adreçat una enquesta per determinar la presència i pes dels factors de capital social. Aquesta informació s'ha creuat amb dades sobre impactes i atracció turística obtingudes també a partir de la mateixa enquesta i, a partir de l'aplicació del test del chi quadrat, s'ha contrastat si les diferències existents entre els diferents factors del capital social són estadísticament significatives. Les conclusions principals obtingudes indiquen que els esdeveniments que tenen elements de capital social que els reforça la seva cohesió social entenen i justifiquen la celebració com a fet socialitzador, independentment del seu abast turístic. A més es detecta que la creació de xarxes de relació enforteix la cohesió interna, la representativitat i el sentit d'identitat de la comunitat. Finalment es constata que la presència d'elements de lideratge que donen visibilitat i vinculen l'esdeveniment amb xarxes externes explica la diferència existent en la capacitat d'atracció i impactes turístics dels esdeveniments. La principal aportació del treball és posar de manifest el paper del capital social com a factor que incideix en la repercussió social i turística dels esdeveniments catalans. La diagnosi efectuada permet recomanar la incorporació del capital social com un actiu estratègic per a la gestió i per a la creació de nous productes i polítiques turístiques centrades en els esdeveniments culturals.

Réseaux, homophilie et discours de collaboration scientifique au Québec : étude comparée sur le capital social des chercheurs junior et senior (1990-2009)

Notre étude porte sur la manière dont les chercheurs universitaires junior et senior en sciences sociales au Québec établissent leurs réseaux de cosignataires et donnent une interprétation discursive à leurs activités de collaboration face à l'impact du changement institutionnel universitaire pendant la période 1990-2009. Plus spécifiquement, notre recherche s'intéresse à montrer que la création des réseaux et la collaboration scientifique par cosignature peuvent être identifiées comme des « ajustements professionnels » et se présenter aussi comme une ressource du capital social qui peut être mobilisé et qui peut produire des avantages aux chercheurs en accord avec leur statut junior ou senior. Il s’agit donc d’une recherche qui relève de la sociologie des sciences. Notre approche a été opérationnalisée à partir de l'étude de 15 membres d'un centre de recherche universitaire au Québec, et leur réseau de 447 cosignataires (y compris les chercheurs de l'étude), et à travers l'application de 7 entretiens auprès de chercheurs junior et senior du même centre. Dans le même plan opérationnel, depuis une perspective qualitative, la thèse permet d'identifier le sens discursif que les chercheurs fournissent à la collaboration et à la participation en réseaux de cosignatures. Ensuite, depuis l'analyse structurelle des réseaux, notre étude montre les connexions individuelles et leurs formes d'interprétation — spécialement la théorie des graphes et ses mesures de centralité (la centralité de degré, la centralité d’intermédiarité et la centralité de vecteur propre) — de même que l'homophilie par statut entre chercheurs. Enfin, depuis l'analyse statistique, elle montre la corrélation des périodes de l'étude et des attributs socioprofessionnels des chercheurs étudiés (sexe, statut universitaire, affiliation institutionnelle, discipline d’appartenance, pays, région du Canada et ville de travail). Notamment, les résultats de notre thèse montrent que chaque catégorie de chercheurs possède ses propres particularités structurelles et discursives en ce qui a trait à ses pratiques de collaboration en réseau, et vont confirmer que les chercheurs senior, plus que les chercheurs junior, grâce à leur capital social mobilisé, ont conservé et obtenu plus d'avantages de leur réseau de cosignataires afin de s'adapter au changement institutionnel et mieux gérer leur travail de collaboration destiné à l’espace international, mais surtout à l'espace local.

Putting the S-word back into Sustainability: Can we be more social?

In an era dominated by climate change debate and environmentalism there is a real danger that the important ‘social’ pillar of sustainability drops out of our vocabulary. This can happen at a variety of scales from business level through to building and neighbourhood level regeneration and development. Social sustainability should be at the heart of all housing and mixed-use development but for a variety of reasons tends to be frequently underplayed. The recent English city riots have brought this point back sharply into focus. The relationships between people, places and the local economy all matter and this is as true today as it was in the late 19th century when Patrick Geddes, the great pioneering town planner and ecologist, wrote of ‘place-work-folk’. This paper, commissioned from Tim Dixon, explains what is meant by social sustainability (and how it is linked to concepts such as social capital and social cohesion); why the debate matters during a period when ‘localism’ is dominating political debate; and what is inhibiting its growth and its measurement. The paper reviews best practice in post-occupancy social sustainability metric systems, based on recent research undertaken by the author on Dockside Green in Vancouver, and identifi es some of the key operational issues in mainstreaming the concept within major mixed-use projects. The paper concludes by offering a framework for the key challenges faced in setting strategic corporate goals and objectives; prioritising and selecting the most appropriate investments; and measuring social sustainability performance by identifying the required data sources

Autodeterminação local e desenvolvimento: uma análise da dinâmica social no município de São Roque de Minas

In this thesis, the basic research of Chase and Simon (1973) is questioned, and we seek new results by analyzing the errors of experts and beginners chess players in experiments to reproduce chess positions. Chess players with different levels of expertise participated in the study. The results were analyzed by a Brazilian grandmaster, and quantitative analysis was performed with the use of statistical methods data mining. The results challenge significantly, the current theories of expertise, memory and decision making in this area, because the present theory predicts piece on square encoding, in which players can recognize the strategic situation reproducing it faithfully, but commit several errors that the theory can¿t explain. The current theory can¿t fully explain the encoding used by players to register a board. The errors of intermediary players preserved fragments of the strategic situation, although they have committed a series of errors in the reconstruction of the positions. The encoding of chunks therefore includes more information than that predicted by current theories. Currently, research on perception, trial and decision is heavily concentrated on the idea of 'pattern recognition'. Based on the results of this research, we explore a change of perspective. The idea of 'pattern recognition' presupposes that the processing of relevant information is on 'patterns' (or data) that exist independently of any interpretation. We propose that the theory suggests the vision of decision-making via the recognition of experience.

Turismo, capital social e produção do espaço: uma leitura a partir do município de Natal/RN no período de 1980 a 2012

Nowadays, there is a tourism phase in the city of Natal/RN called internationalization of tourism , which shows a tourism model with a planning and an administration, based on the needs of the visitors. Such process shows that the production as well as the reproduction of the city spaces with the goal of favor tourism excludes of its composition the effective participation of local subjects. Thus, the research is a result of the perception of tourism as an activity with a meaningful power of transformation of the social and natural space taking into account the low participation of the residents in the decisions of the tourism activities in the city of Natal/RN. Despite that reality, it is possible to note Natal that civil society, starts to mobilize its citizens trying to develop collective actions to low the negative impacts caused by the bad planning as wells not efficient tourism administration, trying to put in action the right of the local population to take part in the decisions of the city activities. Having this panorama as background, this paper aims at investigating in which way the mobilizing action of the social capital in Natal has contributed to change the spatial production which is part of the process of expansion of tourism in Natal/RN? The research presents a temporal picture which starts in the year of 1980, when occurs the first effective state intervention aiming to develop tourism in the capital, taking into account an analysis of 2012. Concerning the spatial picture, the research investigates the beaches of Natal which concentrates criteria and actions such as: visitation, tourism appeal and focus of investments, highlighting the following beaches: Ponta Negra, Areia Preta, Praia dos Artistas, Praia do Meio, Praia do Forte and Redinha. This study is of a descriptive and exploratory nature concerning its goals. With respect to the treatment of its object it is a qualitative research. The data was collected through structural interviews, with open questions. Regarding the methodological choices, it was used the content analysis proposed as well as the collective discursive subject methodology. The results show that there´s not yet in Natal a meaningful social capital related to tourism, capable to change the spatial production related to the activity. It should be stressed that Natal social capital presents difficulties concerning the incentive to trust, spontaneous cooperation and the civic participation, which are the foundation for the development of an effective social capital, which makes it harder for a more expressive articulation in the reality in Natal/RN. It should be stressed, as an answer to the research questions, that tourism in Natal/RN is represented by social and spatial segregation. In other words it emphasizes mainly the action of hegemonic agents (State and market), leaving little room for the participation of society. It can be noticed that the actions related to tourism in Natal keeps the popular participation out of the way. Thus, it can be said that the social capital in Natal/RN does not yet contribute to a more fair spatial production related to the expansion of the tourism as well as the well being of the population of Natal/RN. In conclusion, it should be taken into account that this participation do exists but not in a meaningful way. In other words, it´s not enough yet to cause meaningful changes in the actions which tourism needs nowadays in Natal/RN

A relação entre o microcrédito e o capital social : o caso do CEAPE PI

This study consists of a study on the presence of relationship between social capital and solidarity groups to endorse the Center for Support to Small Businesses - CEAPE - PI, the capital was measured by confidence levels and associations, considering trust as the expectations want, and learned associations between people and how the interactions among members within a group and between groups. The central research question seeks to identify whether there are linkages between the levels of social capital and the profile of members of the solidarity group CEAPE-PI. The overall objective is to analyze the level of social capital and whether these vary with the change in the profile of the solidarity group members. The method adopted in perspective cross-examined the level of social capital found in 300 of solidarity group members, collected through a survey research related to the profile of the solidarity group members, obtained with the CEAPEPI. The data show that micro-credit groups have relatively high levels for most variables, but to relate to the profile of microcredit results demonstrate the interesting points of analysis