Getting By but Not Ahead? The Paradox of Social Capital for Understanding Rural Poverty in Iowa

• In Event: 127 - Section on Inequality, Poverty and Mobility Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Paper Session: Table 17. Poverty II

Abstract

The relationship between social capital and individual- and community-level poverty is likely complex. Using data from a survey of nearly 10,000 residents of Iowa taken in 1994 and again in 2004, this study examines how different forms of social capital link to rural poverty in dynamic ways. Results suggest that higher bonding social capital at both the individual- and community-level is associated with a higher likelihood of poverty, whereas the inverse is true for bridging social capital. Interestingly, as high levels of social bonding is generally considered an asset, when combined with low levels of bridging social capital, we find significantly higher rural poverty rates in 1994 and 2004—almost twice the statewide average poverty rate.

Authors

• Brady Alexander Currit, Cornell University

• Benjamin G. Gibbs, Brigham Young University

• Ralph B. Brown, Brigham Young University