In-migration and Dilution of Community Social Capital

In this paper, we find that higher levels of in-migration dilute multiple dimensions a community’s social capital, with some measures capital being negatively impacted more than others. Using spatial model and restricted-access microdata from the US Census Bureau, employ an instrumental variables strategy to account for endogeneity migration. Our results suggest political activism, overall, is most by in-migration, religiosity, trust, community involvement are in rural communities compared non-rural communities.