The influence of social capital on environmental policy instruments

Abstract

The literature connecting social capital with natural resources management has increased significantly in the past decade. Several studies have indicated that higher levels of social capital may lead to improved environmental management by communities. In this context, a multidimensional concept of social capital is used and its connection with environmental policy implementation is explored. The social capital components investigated are: social and institutional trust, social norms and social networks. This provides a first attempt to investigate the interconnections between these social capital components and different types of environmental policy instruments. Furthermore, social capital is connected to the constraints imposed by different instruments and the way that they are perceived by citizens.