Developmental Programmes in Local Communities
Developmental Programmes in Local Communities

Summary/Abstract: This article analyses the impact of developmental programmes on socialintegration in two Hungarian small towns. It studies changing patterns ofsocial integration in two settlements sharing similar endowments, with respectto a middle-sized Roma population living in segregated neighbourhoods.Drawing on recent studies in economic sociology, social integration is used asa proxy for socio-economic development and explained by differences in thetransformation of local institutions. Divergences in institutional changeinfluence the innovation capacity of communities and institutional changedistributes authority among a variety of local and central state, non-state, forprofitand non-profit actors providing space for their association and formingthe basis of an integrated local community. The main aim of the study ismapping the factors and mechanisms that shape and generate institutionalchange in support of social cohesion and development. Our cases explorethat in the absence of such institutions, public goods are more likely to beappropriated by incumbents, which hinders the evolution of innovativesolutions to socio-economic problems and weakens the developmentalcapacities of communities.

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