Editing Local community (section)

==Benefits of local community==
The author [[Robert Putnam]] refers to the [[value (economics)|value]] which comes from social networks as [[social capital]] in his book ''Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.'' He writes that social capital "makes an enormous difference in our lives", that "a society characterized by generalized reciprocity is more efficient that a distrustful society" and that economic sociologists have shown a minimized economic wealth if social capital is lacking.<ref>Putnam, Robert D. ''Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival of American Community''. New York: [[Simon & Schuster]], 2000. pp.21,289-290.</ref>

Putnam reports that the first use of the social capital theory was by [[L. J. Hanifan]], a practical reformer during the [[Progressive Era]] in the United States of America. The following description of social capital is a quote from L.J. Hanifan in Putnam's Book:

{{quote|
Those tangible substances [that] count for most in the daily lives of people: namely good will, fellowship, sympathy, and social intercourse among individuals and families who make up a social unit…. The individual is helpless socially, if left to himself…. If he comes into contact with neighbor, and they with other neighbors, there will be an accumulation of social capital, which may immediately satisfy his social needs and which may bear a social potentiality sufficient to the substantial improvement of living conditions in the whole community. The community as a whole will benefit by the cooperation of all its parts, while the individual will find in his associations the advantages of the help, sympathy, and fellowship of his neighbors.<ref>Lyda Judson Hanifan, "The Rural School Community Center," Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 67 (1916): 130-138, quotation at 130. Found in Putnam, Robert D. Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000. Print.a</ref>
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;Employment
Putnam reported that many studies have shown that the highest predictor of [[job satisfaction]] is the presence of social connection in the [[Wiktionary:Workplace|workplace]]. He writes that "people with friends at work are happier at work." And that "social networks provide people with advice, a bonus, a promotion, and other strategic information, and letters of recommendation."<ref>Putnam, Robert D. (2000), p.90. Referencing: Jeanne S. Hurlbert, "Social Networks, Social Circles, and Job satisfaction," Work and Occupations, 18 (1991): 415-438; [[Randy Hodson]], "Group Relations at Work: Solidarity, Conflict, and Relations with Management," Work and Occupations 24 (1997): 426-452; Ronnie Sandroff, "The power of Office Friendships," Working Mother (November 1997): 35-36, and the works cited there.</ref>

Community engagement has been proven to counteract the most negative attributes of poverty and a high amount of social capital has been shown to reduce crime.<ref>Putnam, Robert D. (2000), pp.297-308.</ref>

;Local community and health
"Social connectedness matters to our lives in the most profound way." -Robert Putnam.<ref name="putnam326">Putnam, Robert D. (2000), p.326.</ref>

Robert Putnam reports, in the chapter ''Health and Happiness'' from his book ''Bowling Alone'', that recent public research shows social connection impacts all areas of human health, this includes psychological and physical aspects of human health. Putnam says "...beyond a doubt that social connectedness is one of the most powerful determinates of our well being."<ref name="putnam326" /> In particular it is face to face connections which have been shown to have greater impacts then non-face to face relationships.<ref>Putnam, Robert D. (2000), p.332.</ref>

Specific health benefits of strong social relationships are a decrease in the likelihood of: seasonal viruses, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, depression, and premature death of all sorts.<ref name="putnam326" />

; Online initiatives
There are online initiatives to improve local communities like LOCAL (www.localchange.com).