An article examined the relationship between social capital and labour market integration of new refugees. It said that length of residency and language competency broadened social networks and, while contacts with religious and co-national groups brought help with employment and housing, the mere possession of networks was not enough to enhance access to employment and the absence of social networks did appear to have a detrimental effect on access to work. The type of social capital appeared to have no significant impact on the permanency or quality of employment, rather, language competency, pre-migration qualifications, and occupations, and time in the United Kingdom were most important in accessing work.
Source: Sin Yi Cheung and Jenny Phillimore, 'Refugees, social capital, and labour market integration in the UK', Sociology, Volume 48 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jun
An article examined the relationship between social capital and happiness in Europe. Social capital was found to matter for happiness across the three dimensions considered. The main drivers of the effects of social capital on happiness appeared to be informal social interaction and general social, as well as institutional, trust. There were significant differences in how social capital interacted with happiness across different areas of Europe, with the connection being weakest in the Nordic countries.
Source: Andres Rodriguez-Pose and Viola von Berlepsch, 'Social capital and individual happiness in Europe', Journal of Happiness Studies, Volume 15 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Apr
A new book examined informal education (explained as 'learning practices that emphasize dialogue and learning through everyday life'). Chapters covered the contributions of youth work, Scouting, Guiding, Care Farms, youth music programmes, and the use of online/information technologies.
Source: Sarah Mills and Peter Kraftl (eds), Informal Education, Childhood and Youth: Geographies, histories, practices, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Mar
An article highlighted the ways in which biography, gender, and socio-economic status were significant mediators in the development and maintenance of social capital by older lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults.
Source: Ann Cronin and Andrew King, 'Only connect? Older lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults and social capital', Ageing and Society, Volume 34 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Feb