The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Social Capital Inequalities Across Income Groups: Evidence From Türki̇ye

This study examines social capital differences across income groups in Türkiye and empirically analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these differences. The study employs LPM and Probit models using repeated cross-sectional (pooled) micro data from the Turkish Statistical Institute's Life Satisfaction Survey for 2017–2022. Social capital is measured by whether individuals have access to an informal support network of relatives, friends, or neighbors in times of need. The findings reveal a strong positive relationship between household income and social capital. The highest-income group exhibits roughly 9 percentage points higher social capital than the lowest-income group. The pandemic dramatically widened this gap. The intergroup difference increased from approximately 5 percentage points in 2017 to 13 percentage points in 2021, nearly tripling social capital inequality. While the lowest-income group experienced substantial erosion of its informal networks, the highest-income group largely preserved its social capital.