The Economic Well-being of Albanians: Trust and Social Capital: How do Cultural Values and the Levels of Trust Affect Social Capital and the ... Performances in the Albanian Societies?

The strong kin and family connections of ethnic Albanians in Western Balkans, coupled with the low trust levels nurtured within such narrow traditional structures in the colonial and communist past, are key factors affecting economic performances of Albanians today. Furthermore, the levels of low trust that are maintained in the Albanian society directly affect the low number of associations outside the close circle of family, kin and acquaintances. This has a direct effect on social capital and therefore the robustness of the respective economic performances. Also, the treatment of ethnic Albanians by the institutions and ruling structures in the Albania, Kosova and Macedonia provides explanations for the social and economic behavior of the ethnic Albanian in contemporary times. Consequently, the main question that this book seeks to answer is: "Why do the different socio-political conditions that are imposed on the ethnic Albanian population in the Balkans not result in different levels of economic development beyond state boundaries?"