Food waste as a (negative) measure of social capital. A study across Italian Provinces

Household food waste behaviour results from a complex interaction among economic factors, deep-rooted habits, and social norms. It can thus be considered a measure of a community’s social capital. We test this hypothesis using a 2016 dataset of Italian households’ food-related behaviours and opinions. We find food waste to be negatively related with social capital. This relationship is mediated by income. Status concerns with respect to food and lack of organisational abilities, more prevalent in low social capital areas, generate increased waste. Our results, captured by a modified public good game, allow to derive policy implications for food waste reduction.