2. Towards an Atlas of Social Capital and Institutions in Italy: Strategy, Developments and Open Issues
Alessandra Righi
Istat

3. Interest in Social Capital
The concept is increasingly used at local policy level (Institutions, Social Networks, Territorial pacts, Business incubators)
It is a common ground for Sociology, Political Science and Economics and it seems possible a converging collaboration using simplifying models
Research results show that SC can explain differences in productive organisation, in economic development and inequities in social life

4. Istat Social Capital Project
Given the large scientific interest and the growing pressure exercised by national and international organisations and although there are different national studies and measurement of SC at local level, we decided to make a SC project with the following characteristics: reproducibility, quality, reliability
We proposed an Atlas of Local Development through information on the presence of Institutions, the availability of infrastructures, the quality of life, the awareness of Social Capital

5. Key element of the Project
Analysis of presence/absence of Institutions and Social Networks and their interactions with Local Development
Moreover, we want to analyse the interactions among these three variables
Use the potential of a GIS to choose the better territorial aggregation of local areas for a better understanding

6. Developments of the Project
Creating a research network
Finding data sources
Proposing a working definition
Defining dimensions, themes and indicators
Analysing the information needs
Choosing the territorial level of analysis
Defining measurement process
Choosing the forms of dissemination

7. Matrix of Sources

8. Questions databank Main dimensions of S.C. Other dimensions of Atlas
1) Social participation
2) Civic participation
3) Social networks, support
4) Trust, reciprocity
5) Control and self-efficacy
6) Perception of social struct. and public services
Other dimensions
of Atlas
1) Human Capital
2) Social/economic Integration
3) Communications
4) Institutions and private economic sector

10. Outlines Two groups of themes:
1) those with many questions in one single survey that do not allow for a wide comparison on several sources
2) those with few questions for each survey for which it is possible a comparison
More than 60 sub-themes identified
The greatest gaps in “Reciprocity and Trust”
Surveys give result at regional level. To increase territorial detail we could acting ex-post on weights

11. Matrix enables
to select questions that provide the best results and to add them in SC ad hoc modules of the “GHS”
comparisons in a national and international contest, to better understand the differences in question wording that could lead to differences in comparing the results

12. Open Issues
The SC matrix, with the gathering in a database of about 400 questions, has been a necessary effort for starting with a clear definition and measurement path
The use of this tool will be complete when quantitative information relative to each questions or indicator will be available

13. Open Issues Which is the best measuring approach in statistical terms?
Are we able to choose the best territorial aggregation offered by GIS in order to understand the interactions among Institution, SC and Local Development?
Are we able to best use explanatory potentials of different indicators for different local areas?

14. Relevance of an International network
Some countries have already developed different steps in these studies. Some NSIs faced the same problems and frequently they synthetize their experiences with guidelines
For a newly come NSI it is difficult to decide which is the best strategy of approach
To discuss these guidelines can contribute to choose the direction to follow

15. Relevance of an International network
Many choices at any step of the project : definition, methods, questions, ad hoc module, questionnaire (dimension and periodicity)
An international permanent group can support members in problem solving
In SC studies OECD and Siena Group have already been an important international role to create harmonised measurements

16. International measurement
It is difficult to say at what extent it is possible an internationally comparable measure of SC because of cross cultural differences in the meaning of some SC dimensions (i.e. Trust)
Many difficulties could be overcome introducing a larger subset of indicators: not only an indicator for each SC main dimensions, but combinations of different indicators in order to consider specificities: for different countries (Mediterranean, transition, etc.), for gender,...

17. International web forum on SC
Like UNDP is doing for HDI with the HDRStatsNet, an international expert forum created to discuss issues related to measuring human development, including how to calculate the composite HD indexes, innovations in adapting these indexes to local contexts, measuring MDG progress, good methodological practices