In rural communities, social ties are often strong and longstanding. Informal ties and social norms provide essential safety nets. Not only can social capital improve access to natural resources, it can also improve access to physical capital. The positive impact of social capital is now well recognized by governments and development agencies that increasingly use decentralization and participatory strategies in their rural development activities. Downside Enforceable group norms are not necessarily good for community members.
Traditions can stifle individual growth and creativity.
Members who do not comply with norms and their families can be ridiculed or ousted from the community. In Sub-Saharan Africa, some rural communities pressure elites who have moved to urban areas to donate money and services to the community. Elites depend on the ethnic community in the village where they grew up to take care of them in illness and old age, especially in countries which have no formal safety nets. For more information on this subject, search our database for documents on Social Capital and Rural Development. Click here to go to our search engine.