Social capital comprises the effects of social relationships created through interaction between individuals and has value/worth based on the various positive effects that social capital can have on economic well-being, solidarity, reciprocity of individuals and societies.
Í hugtakinu felast áhrif þeirra félagstengsla sem einstaklingar mynda í samskiptum og það felur í sér verðmæti/auð vegna margvíslegra jákvæðra áhrifa á hagsæld, samstöðu, gagnkvæmni einstaklinga og samfélaga.