Social Trust in Local Communities and Its Demographic, Socioeconomic Predictors: The Case of Kalloni, Lesvos, Greece

Abstract

Social capital has been recognised as an important factor for the development of local communities and relevant literature review has associated high levels of trust with economic and local development. The present article explores one of the two basic dimensions of social capital, social trust (the other being civic participation) and its association with demographic variables, such as gender, age, educational level and income as predictors of development. A study was conducted in the municipality of Kalloni, Lesbos Greece, where social trust levels were measured among 302 inhabitants. Findings revealed that educational level and income are strong predictors of social trust, with better educated and better paid individuals showing higher probabilities of being trusting towards other people.