Formation of Community Social Capital Starting from Programs against Poverty in Mexico: The Impact of Habitat

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to analyze the impact of Habitat Program concerning social capital of urban poor communities that were intervened between 2009 and 2012 in Mexico. Following a randomized evaluation methodology or experimental type, and applying a difference-in-difference method (did) to databases resulting from two surveys conducted in more than 11 000 households located in 33 cities or metropolitan areas of the country, the conclusion was that the program positively impacted only one of the fourteen variables of the social capital index constructed for this purpose. That variable was prevailing trust between neighbors. Results indicated that the actions of Habitat were insufficient to favorably influence on other significant and specific dimensions of social capital, like participation, cooperation, solidarity, social cohesion or the exchange of useful information in communities, nor in the integral behavior index of social capital.