Just as the sources of social capital are plural so are its consequences. The empirical
literature includes applications of the concept as a predictor of, among
others, school attrition and academic performance, childrens intellectual development,
sources of employment and occupational attainment, juvenile delinquency
and its prevention, and immigrant and ethnic enterprise.3 Diversity
of effects goes beyond the broad set of specific dependent variables to which
social capital has been applied to encompass, in addition, the character and
meaning of the expected consequences. A review of the literature makes it possible
to distinguish three basic functions of social capital, applicable in a variety
of contexts: (a) as a source of social control; (b) as a source of family support;
(c) as a source of benefits through extra familial networks.