""Social capital initially derives from social theory, and from the broad idea that social relationships are resources that help people act effectively" - a definition by the late James Coleman, one of the first social scientists to use the term in the 1970s.".

"Social capital has since then quickly entered the common vernacular of our discussions about the connectedness of citizens to their community. It remains, however, a concept that is not easily defined. There lies the impetus for this book, which presents theoretical and empirical studies of social capital by a roster of leading sociologists, economists, and political scientists.

It is an outgrowth of a workshop, held at the World Bank in April 1997, which was devoted to exploring the concept of social capital through a multidisciplinary forum."--BOOK JACKET.