The Operation Of Social Capital In Rural Individual Industrial And Commercial Households From Operating Activities

Based on the macro-background of Chinese social transition and the on-the-spot survey materials acquired by in-depth interview and questionnaire, this thesis applies the social structure and social capital theories to focus on the social capital utilization during the course of business activities of the rural self-employed industrialists and businessmen (RSIB) in traditional and modern rural community. Furthermore, the rural economic growth and social structural transition problem are also discussed in the perspective of rural social capital.First, beyond the parochial capital definition in the old economics, the thesis points out social capital is another important form of capital besides substantial capital and human capital. According to the expression form, the personal relations network, organizations and groups, and community standards are the three major categories of social capital utilized in RSIB 's business activities.Second, the great differences of social capital utilization in different communities and business stages are analyzed. In contrast to the traditional one, in the modern rural community the scale and structure of relation-type social capital are different, while organization-type social capital varies in the distribution, object, degree and motive of cooperation and the controlling way as well, as for the standard-type social capital, there are more human feeling norms but less modern market standards.Then, the thesis studies the functions of social capital utilization on RSIB's business. The study demonstrates different functions in different stages and communities. Generally speaking, the function is positive in original stage while negative in expanding stage, and social capital utilizing in modern rural is more conducive to economic benefit and scale expansion.Finally, on the basis of positive research the thesis further discusses theoretically the great significance of rural social structural to rural economic growth, and the tendency of rural social structural transformation.