Inequality in the Distribution of Social Capital : Social background factors and access to social capital among labor market entrants

Abstract: This thesis examines the relation between ascribed factors and the distribution of social capital among young adults. Information about the type of ties used in access to social capital is utilized to provide an understanding of the social contexts and mechanisms that play a role in the creation of social capital. The study measures social capital with a position generator methodology and utilizes the first wave of the Swedish LIFINCON survey, which is a study of 19 year olds of Iranian, Yugoslavian and Swedish origin. The results show that having socioeconomically advantaged parents and living in a large city region is associated with higher levels of social capital. Gender differences are found in the accessed range of social capital as women more often reached positions with the lowest prestige value. Background in Iran or Yugoslavia has a positive effect on social capital and parents’ class position in the country of origin is important for their children’ social capital. It is argued that social closure and social distance can explain why social background is important in determining access to high prestige social capital and that the composition of an individual network is affected by the average resources in a “group” or region.