Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

1-2019

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Source Publication

Urban Affairs Review

Source ISSN

1078-0874

Abstract

Social capital is presumed to help individuals who lack financial or human capital achieve collective action through their social ties and networks of relationships. But does it help individuals overcome their socioeconomic disadvantages relative to their wealthier neighbors, or does the accumulation of social capital merely reproduce socioeconomic disparities, particularly in economically segregated places? Leveraging data from the Current Population Survey, I test whether residential income segregation is associated with larger income differences in social capital investments and collective action. I find that in more economically segregated places, wealthier residents are more likely to be members of neighborhood organizations and report working with other community members to address local issues. These results are robust to the inclusion of other potential confounders, including income inequality, racial context, and racial residential segregation. This research has implications for policy makers and stakeholders interested in building a more inclusive civic arena.

Comments

Accepted version. Urban Affairs Review, Vol. 55, No. 1 (January 2019) : 257-287. DOI. © 2019 SAGE Publications. Used with permission.

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