Mapped in or Mapped Out? : The Romanian Poor in Inter-household and Community Networks

"Mapped In or Mapped Out? is part of the World Bank Working Paper series. These papers are published to communicate the results of the Bank's ongoing research and to stimulate public discussion.It has been observed in Central European countries in general and in Romania in particular that during transition strong social ties connecting relatives, immediate friends and associates have become stronger, while the weak ties connecting individuals and households through professional and social associations have become weaker. In this context, the poor are reported to be falling out of both types of associations. This title analyses patterns of economic and social interactions that sustain the poor or, alternatively, isolate them yet further from other households, from the communities in which they live and, by extension, from social networks and economic opportunities. The study also assesses interactions of the poor with local and central government in terms of the level of trust and satisfaction with public officials, the level of involvement in public actions and public decision-making and the ability of local governments to respond to the needs of their poorer constituency, especially in providing social assistance and other Minimum Income Guarantee benefits." TABLE OF CONTENTS......Page 5 Acknowledgments......Page 7 1. Introduction......Page 9 Description of the Study......Page 10 Main Findings......Page 11 Policy Implications......Page 13 Public and Private Formal Transfers......Page 15 Formal Private Social Flows......Page 20 Informal Income......Page 25 Informal Inter-household Flows by Category......Page 27 Maps of Inter-household Transfers......Page 33 Household Welfare......Page 43 Inter-household Flows: Multivariate Tests......Page 45 Social Capital and Access to Resources—The Case of Triple Exclusion?......Page 49 Social Capital, Local Governance, and Public Assistance......Page 52 Social Capital and Quality of Public Service Delivery......Page 54 Decentralization and Local Government Efficacy......Page 59 6. Policy Implications......Page 61 A......Page 63 B......Page 83 C......Page 93 References......Page 95 "This volume analyzes patterns of economic and social interactions that sustain the poor or, alternatively, isolate them yet further from other households, from the communities in which they live and, by extension, from social networks and economic opportunities. This study also assesses interactions of the poor with local and central governments in terms of the level of trust and satisfaction with public officials, the level of involvement in public actions and public decisionmaking, and the ability of local governments to respond to the needs of their poorer constituency, especially in providing social assistance and other Minimum Income Guarantee benefits." --Résumé de l'éditeur "This volume analyzes patterns of economic and social interactions that sustain the poor or, alternatively, isolate them yet further from other households, from the communities in which they live and, by extension, from social networks and economic opportunities. This study also assesses interactions of the poor with local and central governments in terms of the level of trust and satisfaction with public officials, the level of involvement in public actions and public decisionmaking, and the ability of local governments to respond to the needs of their poorer constituency, especially in providing social assistance and other Minimum Income Guarantee benefits."--BOOK JACKET. In Central European countries, and in Romania in particular, transition strengthens social ties connecting relatives, immediate friends and associates but weakens ties connecting individuals and households through professional and social associations. In this context, the poor are reported to be falling out of both types of associations.