Ghost of Midnight

Neighborhoods much less important as social units

Economist Juliet B. Schor writes in her new book, Plentitude: The New Economics of True Wealth, about the decline of social capital in the United States during the past few decades…

Neighborhoods have become much less important as social units, with people much less likely to interact with, or even know, their neighbors… Online community is growing and filling in some of the gap.  But it doesn’t replicate all the functions of face-to-face interaction.  (Full quote here… see “Economies of Reciprocity.”)

Schor discusses competing theories that may explain this… and looks at people, projects and places pushing back on this troubling trend.  A compelling read.