Civic capital refers to the strength of a community's social fabric, measured by levels of trust, willingness to cooperate, and civic engagement. Research suggests that communities with high civic capital tend to have more successful businesses, often reflected in their size and resilience. This tool helps you explore this concept interactively.
Civic Capital Score: N/A / 10
Avg. Business Size: N/A employees
Civic Capital Score: N/A / 10
Avg. Business Size: N/A employees
Civic Capital: This represents the collective value of social networks, shared norms, and trust that foster cooperation within a community. Higher civic capital often leads to a more supportive, predictable, and efficient environment for businesses to thrive and grow.
Trust: High levels of trust among community members and towards institutions reduce transaction costs for businesses (e.g., less need for complex contracts, extensive vetting, or heavy security). It fosters reliable collaboration, encourages investment, and makes business dealings smoother and more efficient. When people trust each other and local systems, agreements are easier to reach and are more likely to be honored.
Willingness to Cooperate: A cooperative spirit enables businesses to form beneficial partnerships, share resources (like knowledge, equipment, or customer bases), and engage in collective problem-solving for community issues that affect them (such as infrastructure, local regulations, or workforce development). This can lead to innovation, greater efficiency, risk-sharing, and a more resilient local economy capable of adapting to challenges.
Civic Engagement (e.g., volunteering, voting, community participation): Active participation in civic life indicates a population that is invested in the well-being and continuous improvement of their community. This can translate to a more stable and skilled local workforce, better public services and amenities, more responsive local government, and a generally more attractive and dynamic environment for businesses to operate, attract talent, and grow.