By Michelle T. Kuenzi

Social capital is thought to explain variations in the performance of institutions and policies across different settings, and evidence has been shown of a relationship between trust and economic prosperity. In developing countries, efforts to improve quality of life may depend fundamentally on small scale, cooperative efforts to develop economic infrastructure, provide education, clean drinking water, and social services. Because social capital can play such a valuable role, it is important to understand the factors that give rise to social capital. 

A great deal of research has been reported on social capital in the advanced industrialized democracies, but not very much is known about the factors that influence social capital in developing countries, particularly those of Africa. What are the factors that give rise to social capital? Do the factors that give rise to social capital vary across contexts? In order to address these questions, this paper analyses Afrobarometer survey data collected in Nigeria and Ghana.

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