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Social Capital and Longitudinal Change in Sustainability Plans and Policies: U.S. Cities from 2000 to 2010

Author

Listed:
  • John Pierce

    (School of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Kansas, 1445 Jayhawk Blvd., 4060 Wescoe Hall, Lawrence, KS 66045-3177, USA)

  • Nicholas Lovrich

    (Division of Governmental Studies and Services, Washington State University, P.O. Box 645136, Pullman, WA 99164-5136, USA)

  • Bonnie Johnson

    (Department of Urban Planning, University of Kansas, 1465 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 418, Lawrence, KS 66045-7614, USA)

  • Tony Reames

    (School of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Kansas, 1445 Jayhawk Boulevard, 4060 Wescoe Hall, Lawrence, KS 66045-3177, USA)

  • William Budd

    (School of the Environment, Washington State University, P.O. Box 644870, Pullman, WA 99164-4870, USA)

Abstract

This study examines changes from 2000 to 2010 in the adoption of sustainability plans and policies in a sample of U.S. cities. The study’s framework posits sustainability initiatives as communitarian outcomes intended to meet the needs of both current and future generations. We hypothesize, accordingly, that a community’s social capital level, in the form of the relative presence of social trust, is a primary facilitating condition for the adoption of sustainability initiatives. The analysis assesses whether trust-based social capital is similarly associated with the adoption of plans and policies at both time points (2000 and 2010), as well as whether social capital is associated with change in the adoption levels documented across the ten-year period. The paper concludes by suggesting that the effect of social capital is substantially reduced in 2010 as a consequence of institutional network dynamics featured in the theory of isomorphic change.

Suggested Citation

  • John Pierce & Nicholas Lovrich & Bonnie Johnson & Tony Reames & William Budd, 2013. "Social Capital and Longitudinal Change in Sustainability Plans and Policies: U.S. Cities from 2000 to 2010," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2013:i:1:p:136-157:d:31683
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    References listed on IDEAS

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