Social traps and the problem of trust

Bo Rothstein explores how social capital and social trust are generated and what governments can do about it. He argues that it is the existence of universal and impartial political institutions together with public policies which enhance social and economic equality that creates social capital

List of tables and figures -- Acknowledgements -- 1. Reflections after a long day in Moscow -- 2. On the rational choice of culture -- 3. On the theory and practice of social capital -- 4. Social capital in the social democratic welfare state -- 5. How is social capital produced? -- 6. The problem of institutional credibility -- 7. Trust and collective memories -- 8. The transition from mistrust to trust -- 9. The conditions of trust and the capacity for dialog -- Bibliography -- Index