The consequences of persistent inequality on social capital : a municipal-level analysis of blood donation data

Abstract

This letter advances the hypothesis that persistent inequality affects cultural traits and undermines social capital. We use blood donation data at the local level in Southern Spain to document that, indeed, persistent inequality –as measured by land inequality– negatively affects blood donation, which indicates that it harms social capital. This evidence sheds new light into the debates on the consequences of inequality and the determinants of culture.