Social Capital, Development and Public Policies in Medellin, 2004-2007

Based on two programs, Planning & Participatory Budgeting & Transparent Management & Social Control from 2004-2007 Development Plan of Medellin, this article presents & analyzes the link between social capital, development (economic & social) & public policies. This work shows how those programs are actions which help to promote & strengthen social capital in the city. The first two parts of the article are about how social capital has been incorporated in development policies; the third uses the results of 1.210 surveys to show the connection between the two programs & Medellin in 2007 regarding citizen participation, administrative transparency & trust in government; in the last section, the authors offer some proposals to strengthen the programs analyzed in the city & they conclude that local government should continue both programs because of their ability to promote trust & cooperation in the city. Tables, Figures, References. Adapted from the source document.