Social Capital in North America: Do Generations Growing Up During Times of Economic Distress Engage with Society Differently than Generations Growing Up in Prosperous Times?

Date Presented:

Abstract:

Do generations growing up during times of economic distress engage with society differently than generations growing up in prosperous times? In order to assess this we explore the relationship between the unemployment rates young adults experience to self-reported measures of civic engagement in the General Social Surveys of Canada and the United States. Using time variations in national macroeconomic conditions, it is apparent that individuals from lower educated families who experience high unemployment rates in young adulthood are less likely to have voted in the most recent presidential election. Individuals from higher educated families who experience high unemployment rates in young adulthood, on the other hand, are more likely to have voted in the most recent presidential election. It seems that the former loses faith in the ‘system’ while the latter is empowered to further engage in the democratic process. We find trust in others and political ideology to be important mediators in this relationship that should be studied further in order to understand more about this enlightening finding and the general nature of socioeconomic status on interpreting adverse conditions in early adulthood. Please note that this analysis is still a work in progress.