?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=How+to+construct+a+robust+measure+of+social+capital%3A+Two+contributions&rft.creator=Bj%C3%83%C2%B8rnskov%2C+C.&rft.creator=Svendsen%2C+G.T.&rft.subject=Research+methodology+and+philosophy&rft.subject=+Surveys+and+statistics&rft.description=How+to+construct+a+robust+measure+of+social+capital%3F+This+paper+offers+two+contributions.+The+first+is+an+attempt+to+establish+a+broad+social+capital+measure+based+on+four+indicators%2C+the+Freedom+House+Index%2C+an+index+of+perceived+corruption+from+Transparency+International%2C+and+scores+on+civic+participation+and+generalized+trust.+This+measure+is+then+applied+by+comparing+the+level+of+social+capital+in+25+countries+from+Western+and+Eastern+Europe.+Our+nine-cluster+analysis+shows+that+Switzerland+has+the+highest+score%2C+followed+by+the+Netherlands+and+Scandinavia.+At+the+other+end+of+the+continuum+we+find+post-communist+countries+and+southern+Italy.+The+findings+for+this+specific+sample+suggest+that+institutions+matter+for+social+capital+and+the+relationship+between+decentralization+and+social+capital+emerges+as+a+promising+line+of+inquiry.+Thus%2C+the+highest+scoring+countries+in+the+sample+may+serve+as+institutional+models+for+countries+and+regions+aiming+to+increase+their+future+level+of+social+capital.+More+rigorous+empirical+research+is+needed+within+this+field.+&rft.date=2007&rft.type=Journal+paper&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F14319%2F1%2FHow_to_construct_a_robust_measure_of_social_capital_Two_contributions.pdf&rft.identifier=Bj%C3%83%C2%B8rnskov%2C+C.+and+Svendsen%2C+G.T.+(2007)+How+to+construct+a+robust+measure+of+social+capital%3A+Two+contributions.+Journal+of+Comparative+Policy+Analysis%2C+Vol.+9+(No.3)%2C+pp.+275-292.+*&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F14319%2F