Buying schools with social capital: how local response to state reform fosters education revenue inequality |
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Authors: | Jonathan Collins |
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Affiliation: | Department of Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA |
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Abstract: | In this article, the author tests the hypothesis that social capital leads to greater inequality in public school revenue. Research has linked social capital – the manifestation of social networks of trust and shared norms – to efforts that can alleviate inequality. By conducting a comparative analysis of the counties and school districts in California, this article finds competing evidence. Instead, the author finds that local areas with more membership associations generate more revenue for their schools, despite efforts by the state government to equalise revenue across districts. The local residents appear to be increasing their revenue by using their social capital to generate the collective action needed to increase their property-tax contribution. |
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Keywords: | Social capital democracy education policy school finance local politics |
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