Gunnar Svendsen | University of Southern Denmark (original) (raw)
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Papers by Gunnar Svendsen
What are the roots of social capital and how can it be measured and built? Social capital is cons... more What are the roots of social capital and how can it be measured and built? Social capital is considered as a new production factor which must be added to the conventional concepts of human and physical capital. Social capital is productive because it increases the level of trust in a society and allows more transactions to take place without third-party enforcement. Theory and lessons from empirical evidence lead to the general recommendation that any loss in social capital must be deducted from the economic gain following market forces. For example, the voluntary organization of small-sized groups in the Danish Cooperative Dairy Movement was eliminated due to economies of scale. It may be so that an alternative way of production, taking social capital into account, could have increased economic growth further. JEL Classification: A12, C71, D23, D70
Journal of Rural and Community Development, 2016
Since the Second World War, rural areas in developed countries have witnessed a steady population... more Since the Second World War, rural areas in developed countries have witnessed a steady population decline. In Europe, this development has led to political initiatives to revitalise rural areas through the extensive EU Rural Development Policy containing rather substantial funding. However, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the public’s opinion on government support for rural areas. Based on a national survey, this paper investigates this question in a Danish context. The paper contains two main results. First, it indicates that the large majority of the Danish population favours government support to rural areas. Second, examining the impact of self-interest and socialisation on attitudes towards government support for rural areas, it finds that only self-interest plays a role. ---------------------------------------------------------- Resume Depuis la seconde guerre mondiale, les zones rurales des pays developpes ont ete temoin d'un declin constant de la populatio...
Economic Systems, 2016
As the saying goes, "it takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it." In this pa... more As the saying goes, "it takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it." In this paper, we argue that this is indeed the case when explaining trust formation in Scandinavia. Hence, in an attempt to explain why the Scandinavian welfare states hold the highest social trust scores in the world today, we argue that one possible historical root of social trust may be long-distance trade practices of the Viking age. To manage the risk of being cheated, trade between strangers in an oral world required a strong informal institution of trust-based trade norms out of necessity to deal with the risk of being cheated. In contrast to similar cases like the famous medieval Maghribi traders who counted on writing (Greif 1989), the punishment of cheaters could not be supported by written documents such as legal documents and letters, as the large majority of Vikings were non-literate. If a trader did not keep his word, social sanctioning by word of mouth was most likely the only method to discipline the cheater and prevent future free-rider behavior. The early rise of trust-based trade norms in Scandinavia is an overlooked factor in the region's long-term socioeconomic development and social trust accumulation. This result points to the importance of free trade today, especially in poor countries with low levels of economic development and high rates of nonliteracy.
Journal of Rural Studies, 2007
Trust, Social Capital and the Scandinavian Welfare State, 2016
Agriculture and Human Values, 2003
Business and Management Research, 2013
Historical Social Research / Historische Sozialforschung
How does social trust emerge in a country? By comparing the cases of Denmark and Germany through ... more How does social trust emerge in a country? By comparing the cases of Denmark and Germany through six historical phases, we suggest that a plausible explanation is long run political stability. In Denmark, social trust was arguably allowed to accumulate slowly over time and was probably not destroyed up till the universal welfare state of the 20th century. In Germany, however, political instability since the first German state building hampered the emergence and maintenance of social trust, which is why social trust was never allowed to grow in this country.
WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, 2013
Business and Management Research, 2013
It is generally assumed that multinational enterprises (MNEs) are more volatile than local firms.... more It is generally assumed that multinational enterprises (MNEs) are more volatile than local firms. From the viewpoint of host countries, the volatility of MNE subsidiaries is often seen as a problem. Therefore it becomes relevant to look for ways to reduce the volatility of multinational activity across borders. We review the literature and identify a gap regarding social capital as a potential instrument for reducing the level of volatility. An existing stock of social capital may be advantageous not only to the host country but also to the MNE in the sense that optimal in-company resource allocation and profits could be improved even further. Thus, the dominating theory of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment), the eclectic paradigm as developed by John Dunning, offers a relevant opportunity to fill a gap in the literature and include social capital in FDI decisions as a new location factor.
Public Management Review, 2009
analysis that does not enable all forms of innovation to be investigated. The chapters that follo... more analysis that does not enable all forms of innovation to be investigated. The chapters that followed detailing the case studies were much more applied and insightful, although Chapters 5 and 6 did tend to fall into the trap outlined in Chapter 4 and focus upon technological innovations in health. While exploring a ‘technologically intense’ innovation in the health field (digital radiology), Chapter 5 also examined an ‘organizationally intense’ innovation (ambulatory surgery), both of which were tracked through their implementation stages. The study concluded by highlighting the importance of the interaction between economic, social and political factors in shaping innovations. Chapter 6 explored the drivers and trajectory of coronary angioplasty. Although still in the health field, Chapter 7 moved away from specific technological innovations and linked to the discussion offered in Chapter 4. The chapter aimed to provide a broader analytical framework that could be used to understand innovation in hospitals and through empirical research undertaken in France applied the model to a set of case studies. It was refreshing to move on to Chapters 8, 9 and 10 as the focus began to move away from the health focus that had predominated so far. Chapter 8 presented patient-centred diabetes education as a radical innovation. It was helpful to see the typology from Chapter 1 being applied but would have been interesting for students and future researchers to hear more about why the author saw this innovation as radical and not incremental. There were both positives and negatives to be gained from the presentation of such a diverse range of studies and innovations contained within the case studies. On the positive side the presence of multiple projects enabled themes to be drawn and general lessons about the public sector to be speculated upon. However, occasionally too much detail was provided on the actual innovation itself leaving the reader wanting greater analysis and comparison between studies. Chapters 9 and 10 achieved a better balance and were extremely interesting in helping to further our understanding of innovation processes. Overall the book has much to offer both academics and students interested in innovation in the public sector, making a useful contribution in an area sadly lacking in original research and literature.
What are the roots of social capital and how can it be measured and built? Social capital is cons... more What are the roots of social capital and how can it be measured and built? Social capital is considered as a new production factor which must be added to the conventional concepts of human and physical capital. Social capital is productive because it increases the level of trust in a society and allows more transactions to take place without third-party enforcement. Theory and lessons from empirical evidence lead to the general recommendation that any loss in social capital must be deducted from the economic gain following market forces. For example, the voluntary organization of small-sized groups in the Danish Cooperative Dairy Movement was eliminated due to economies of scale. It may be so that an alternative way of production, taking social capital into account, could have increased economic growth further. JEL Classification: A12, C71, D23, D70
Journal of Rural and Community Development, 2016
Since the Second World War, rural areas in developed countries have witnessed a steady population... more Since the Second World War, rural areas in developed countries have witnessed a steady population decline. In Europe, this development has led to political initiatives to revitalise rural areas through the extensive EU Rural Development Policy containing rather substantial funding. However, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the public’s opinion on government support for rural areas. Based on a national survey, this paper investigates this question in a Danish context. The paper contains two main results. First, it indicates that the large majority of the Danish population favours government support to rural areas. Second, examining the impact of self-interest and socialisation on attitudes towards government support for rural areas, it finds that only self-interest plays a role. ---------------------------------------------------------- Resume Depuis la seconde guerre mondiale, les zones rurales des pays developpes ont ete temoin d'un declin constant de la populatio...
Economic Systems, 2016
As the saying goes, "it takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it." In this pa... more As the saying goes, "it takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it." In this paper, we argue that this is indeed the case when explaining trust formation in Scandinavia. Hence, in an attempt to explain why the Scandinavian welfare states hold the highest social trust scores in the world today, we argue that one possible historical root of social trust may be long-distance trade practices of the Viking age. To manage the risk of being cheated, trade between strangers in an oral world required a strong informal institution of trust-based trade norms out of necessity to deal with the risk of being cheated. In contrast to similar cases like the famous medieval Maghribi traders who counted on writing (Greif 1989), the punishment of cheaters could not be supported by written documents such as legal documents and letters, as the large majority of Vikings were non-literate. If a trader did not keep his word, social sanctioning by word of mouth was most likely the only method to discipline the cheater and prevent future free-rider behavior. The early rise of trust-based trade norms in Scandinavia is an overlooked factor in the region's long-term socioeconomic development and social trust accumulation. This result points to the importance of free trade today, especially in poor countries with low levels of economic development and high rates of nonliteracy.
Journal of Rural Studies, 2007
Trust, Social Capital and the Scandinavian Welfare State, 2016
Agriculture and Human Values, 2003
Business and Management Research, 2013
Historical Social Research / Historische Sozialforschung
How does social trust emerge in a country? By comparing the cases of Denmark and Germany through ... more How does social trust emerge in a country? By comparing the cases of Denmark and Germany through six historical phases, we suggest that a plausible explanation is long run political stability. In Denmark, social trust was arguably allowed to accumulate slowly over time and was probably not destroyed up till the universal welfare state of the 20th century. In Germany, however, political instability since the first German state building hampered the emergence and maintenance of social trust, which is why social trust was never allowed to grow in this country.
WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, 2013
Business and Management Research, 2013
It is generally assumed that multinational enterprises (MNEs) are more volatile than local firms.... more It is generally assumed that multinational enterprises (MNEs) are more volatile than local firms. From the viewpoint of host countries, the volatility of MNE subsidiaries is often seen as a problem. Therefore it becomes relevant to look for ways to reduce the volatility of multinational activity across borders. We review the literature and identify a gap regarding social capital as a potential instrument for reducing the level of volatility. An existing stock of social capital may be advantageous not only to the host country but also to the MNE in the sense that optimal in-company resource allocation and profits could be improved even further. Thus, the dominating theory of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment), the eclectic paradigm as developed by John Dunning, offers a relevant opportunity to fill a gap in the literature and include social capital in FDI decisions as a new location factor.
Public Management Review, 2009
analysis that does not enable all forms of innovation to be investigated. The chapters that follo... more analysis that does not enable all forms of innovation to be investigated. The chapters that followed detailing the case studies were much more applied and insightful, although Chapters 5 and 6 did tend to fall into the trap outlined in Chapter 4 and focus upon technological innovations in health. While exploring a ‘technologically intense’ innovation in the health field (digital radiology), Chapter 5 also examined an ‘organizationally intense’ innovation (ambulatory surgery), both of which were tracked through their implementation stages. The study concluded by highlighting the importance of the interaction between economic, social and political factors in shaping innovations. Chapter 6 explored the drivers and trajectory of coronary angioplasty. Although still in the health field, Chapter 7 moved away from specific technological innovations and linked to the discussion offered in Chapter 4. The chapter aimed to provide a broader analytical framework that could be used to understand innovation in hospitals and through empirical research undertaken in France applied the model to a set of case studies. It was refreshing to move on to Chapters 8, 9 and 10 as the focus began to move away from the health focus that had predominated so far. Chapter 8 presented patient-centred diabetes education as a radical innovation. It was helpful to see the typology from Chapter 1 being applied but would have been interesting for students and future researchers to hear more about why the author saw this innovation as radical and not incremental. There were both positives and negatives to be gained from the presentation of such a diverse range of studies and innovations contained within the case studies. On the positive side the presence of multiple projects enabled themes to be drawn and general lessons about the public sector to be speculated upon. However, occasionally too much detail was provided on the actual innovation itself leaving the reader wanting greater analysis and comparison between studies. Chapters 9 and 10 achieved a better balance and were extremely interesting in helping to further our understanding of innovation processes. Overall the book has much to offer both academics and students interested in innovation in the public sector, making a useful contribution in an area sadly lacking in original research and literature.