NATSUDA Kaoru
   Department   Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University  College of Asia Pacific Studies
   Position   Professor
Language English
Publication Date 2015/09
Type Research paper
Peer Review Peer reviewed
Title Can Social Capital Reduce Poverty?
A Study of Rural Households in Eastern Bhutan
Contribution Type Corresponding
Journal Asian Economic Journal (Wiley-Blackwell)
Journal TypeAnother Country
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell
Volume, Issue, Page 29(3),pp.243-264
Author and coauthor TENZIN Galey and OTSUKA Kozo
Details This study examines the impact of social capital on the poverty of rural households in eastern Bhutan with a particular attention to the participation in community groups, which can be a proxy for structural aspect of social capital. By employing a simultaneous equation model of two-stage probit least squares (2SPLS), this study reveals that social capital positively contributes to poverty reduction in Bhutan. This study also finds that non-farm income is important for poverty reduction in rural areas. Our results, however, indicate that poor households in remote areas are discouraged to participate in community groups.
DOI 10.1111/asej.12057