Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2005
Abstract
Education is considered to be the greatest predictor of social capital which, in turn, is said to be the greatest predictor of socio-economic development. In order to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of this apparent chain of causation the study looked closely at the variables of interest among a population of highly educated Jamaicans. Certain highly educated members of the cohorts who graduated from high school in Jamaica between 1950 and 2000 show a high propensity for Generalised Trust that finds expression in the extent of their sociability, the range and heterogeneity of the groups to which they belong and the density of their social networks. These individuals demonstrate high levels of those constructs that are associated with social capital and engage in activities that enhance beneficial collective action. These individuals predominantly attended non-elite secondary schools in Jamaica. On the other hand, another portion of the highly educated cohorts, largely graduates of elite secondary institutions, show lower levels of Generalised Trust, and lower levels of those constructs associated with social capital. The conclusion is that education may well matter, but the character of the institution in which education takes place matters more.
Keywords
education--social aspects--Jamaica
Rights
© The Author(s). Kelvin Smith Library provides access for non-commercial, personal, or research use only. All other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication or transmission, whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Morgan, Beverley J., "Trust, Education and Development in Jamaica, 1950-2000" (2005). Student Scholarship. 512.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/512