SOCIAL CAPITAL: A PLANNER'S PRIMER

Most planners have heard the term “social capital”. It is becoming common in many community development discussions. Social capital is those features of social organization, like trust, social or cultural norms, and the networks by which communities facilitate action or just keep themselves going. In this article, we draw on our recent work on social capital and community development to define social capital and link it to planning practice. To do this, we emphasize the importance of place, not only as a vital theme in the work of planners but also as an important ingredient in supporting social capital.