Social Capital and the Economy

Social exchanges and social capital

Ep 15. This episode explores how social capital influences the nature and outcomes of various types of exchanges, challenging the traditional views held by neoclassical economics. Lindon begins by reflecting on his training in neoclassical economics, which often emphasizes selfish behavior and voluntary exchanges. He contrasts this with the broader perspective offered by social capital, […]

Social Capital and the Economy

Ep 14. In this episode Tristan Claridge and Lindon Robison delve into the core concept of social capital and its critical role in the economy. They explore how social capital influences the production and exchange of commodities, highlighting that relationships and social connections are fundamental to economic productivity and efficiency. Lindon, trained as a neoclassical […]

Relationships, needs, and motives in social capital theories

Ep 13. This episode explores how relationships significantly influence human behavior and decision-making, particularly within economic contexts. Lindon Robison shares insights from his research on farmland markets, highlighting that the price people are willing to sell their land for varies greatly depending on their relationship with the buyer. For instance, landowners often offer substantial discounts […]

Social Capital and Relationships

Ep 12. This episode explores what we mean by relationships when discussing social capital. There is general agreement that social capital has to do with relationships, but some theories focus on social relationships and others more on the ways in which people are connected. In a previous episode we discussed the core idea of social […]

Social capital and behavioral economics – rationalizing irrational choices

Ep 11. Social capital theories have similarities with behavioral economics. Since the early theories of social capital, it has focused on the actions of individuals and groups that deviate from neoclassical economic theorising – when economic agents “misbehave” or make “predictably irrational” choices. This is similar to behavioral economics, which is the study of the […]