WHAT IMPACT OF LOCAL ACTION GROUPs ON SOCIAL CAPITAL AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT?

Abstract

The European Commission, through the reform of the Structural Funds program, has introduced a new cohesion policy for local development based on the concepts of subsidiarity, partnership and programming. Local Action Groups (LAGs), as public private partnership, are essential for the implementation of the European LEADER program by supporting integrated territorial development strategies of a pilot nature, based on a bottom-up approach. In this study adopting a statistical approach, the LEADER program, through the Local Action Group, is investigated as a model of multilevel governance useful in promoting local development, focusing on the formation of social capital, and strengthening relations and partnership synergy. To this aim a questionnaire has been addressed to all the 132 LAGs operating in Italy. The research highlights the role played by LAGs in generating a collaborative network and social capital, contributing to the achievement of the objectives of local development.