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Document Type: | General |
Publish Date: | 2007 |
Primary Author: | Reinout Kleinhans, Hugo Priemus and Godfried Engbersen |
Edited By: | Saba Bilquis |
Published By: | Urban Studies |
In the major Dutch cities, social rented housing in post-war neighbourhoods is demolished and largely replaced by more expensive owner-occupied and rental housing. Through residential mobility, these measures can trigger substantial population changes. In two recently restructured neighbourhoods in the city of Rotterdam, we study residents’ social capital. Herewith, we distinguish between the stayers, movers and newcomers. In a neighborhood context, social capital refers to the benefit of cursory interactions, shared norms, trust, and collective action of residents. Survey data show that social capital is not only an asset of long-term stayers but that in particular newcomers are relatively rich in social capital. Factors associated with higher levels of social capital are a higher net income, presence of households with children, stronger place attachment, higher perceived neighborhood quality, homeownership and single-family dwellings. The expected future length of residence in the area appears of little importance for social capital.