Social capital is defined by its function. It is not a single entity but a variety of different entities, with two elements in common: they all consist of some aspect of social structures, and they facilitate certain actions of actors-whether persons or corporate actors-within the structure. Like other forms of capital, social capital is productive, making possible the achievement of certain ends that in its absence would not be possible.

DEFINE: Social capital is defined functionally via social structures that facilitate actors' actions, not as a single entity.

Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, loc. 39