An Exploration on Middle Aged Women"s Social Capital and Economic Capital: A Comparison of Four Different Age Groups

Abstract

This study examined the inter-relationship between social capital and economic capital of middle-aged Korean women. This study tried to compare the social capital and economic capital of four age groups: aged 45 to 54, aged 55 to 64, aged 65 to 74, aged 75 to 84. Using Korea Welfare Panel Survey (KOWEPS) data, this study attempts to examine the relationships between social capital and economic capital by using simultaneous equation model. To analyze the 2SLS (Two Stage Least Square method) assumption method of simultaneous equations was used. By applying this simultaneous equation model, this study found, in addition to the previously verified fact that social capital is the predicting factor for young-old women’s economic capital, that the opposite relationship also can be practically verified. That is, social capital and economic capital is not in an unilateral relationship that social capital has effect on economic capital but is in a bilateral relationship that some part of economic capital increase social capital. It was found out the inter-relationship between social capital and economic capital predicted Korean young-old women’s. In also confirmed the necessary of involvement strategy to promote the development of social capital and economic capital in Korea.