城市居民社会资本的来源及作用:网络观点与调查发现

Source and Functions of Urbanites' Social Capital:A Network Approach

社会资本是涵义宽泛、内容不确定的学术概念。本文通过对中国 1999年五城市调查资料的分析 ,以社会资本的网络特征为视角 ,建构了关于社会资本构成、来源及作用的理论框架。借助“春节拜年网”的测量 ,作者发现 :( 1)城市居民的社会网络构成和社会资本总量存在显著差异 ;( 2 )领导干部、企业经理、专业人员及其他白领阶层拥有优势的社会网络和较高的社会资本积累 ,小雇主和工人的社会资本处于相对劣势地位 ;( 3)社会资本的优势者 ,其个人和家庭收入较高 ,自我社会经济地位的评估亦高。

The author defines social capital as resources that are accessed and mobilized by individuals through their social network ties to others. At the individual level, the author proposes a conceptual model that (1) explains variation of social capital in terms of social class distinction and hierarchical and market relational diversities lied in job activities, and (2) accounts for effects of social capital on one's subjective and objective indicators of social status. Measuring social capital with an occupational position generator of “Chinese New Year Greeters' Networks,' the author finds in his 1999 five city survey that Chinese urbanites vary tremendously in social network compositions and social capital volume. Cadres, managers, high level professionals, and office clerks have a higher social capital volume than other classes including small business owners. In all class positions, people are able to transform job related “hierarchical ties' and “market ties' into personal networks and social capital. Finally, social capital significantly increases one's subjective and objective social status.