Societarian networks, social capital and flourishing of public goods

The basic aim of this research project is to evaluate how the different spheres (or levels) of the Italian Third Sector (informal groups and social networks, formalized organizations which provide personal services and umbrella or multi-level organizations) are capable of producing public goods, concieved as positive pro-social externalities for the entire society. The main hypothesis is that the social capital, in its various forms, represents the most important intervening variable which mediates the quality and quantity of these public goods. The criteria for the divison of labour among the unities taking part into the project is given by the empirical differentiation of the italian third sector; informal networks, formalized organizations and multilevel or umbrella organizatios. Each working unity of the project (Bologna, Verona, Milano) will verify the capacity to produce public goods or positive externalities for the whole society, by each of the levels in which the third sector is internally differentiated, i.e., informal networks, formalized organizations and multi level organization. Each working unity of this project (Bologna, Verona, Milano) will verify the capacity to produce public goods or positive externalities for the whole society, by each of the levels in which the third sector is internally differentiated, i.e. informal networks, formalized organizations and multi-level organizations.