Constructing the Integrated Social Capital Index (ISCI): A Comprehensive Measure of Relational and Systemic Dimensions of Social Capital

Abstract

Esser (2007) has laid a comprehensive theoretical foundation for social capital but did not empirically measure it. This study aims to measure the Integrated social capital index and sub-indices of its sub-dimensions at the cross-national level. The study has collected data from several secondary sources for 53 variables, covering all dimensions of social capital. Social capital is divided into two sub-dimensions, relational capital and system capital. Relational capital is subdivided into three dimensions, i.e., positional capital, trust capital, and obligational capital. Similarly, system capital is also divided into three sub-dimensions, i.e., system control, system trust, and system morality. The study has used PCA and an equal-weighted average method to develop the index. The data have been collected for a set of countries, including developed and underdeveloped countries. The study has shown that countries with higher social capital are ranked higher in the relational capital index and the system capital index.