Obligation-credit structures concentrate power in hierarchical and stratified settings.

Evidence

The most extreme examples are in hierarchically structured extended family settings, in which a patriarch (or “godfather”) holds an extraordinarily large set of obligations that he can call in at any time to get what he wants done. Near this extreme are villages in traditional settings that are highly stratified, with certain wealthy families who, because of their wealth, have built up extensive credits that they can call in at any time. — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 92

Categorization

• XREF: The ‘godfather’ patriarch holding obligations connects to the reader’s reading purpose on Sciascia and Sicilian network closure, and to Weber on patrimonial authority. — connects to: Concentrated obligation-credit enhances both individual power and collective output. — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 93; Hierarchical structures concentrate reusable credit slips of social obligation. — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 92; Trust-based obligations function as exchangeable credit within social relationships. (+7 more)

Related

• Hierarchical structures concentrate reusable credit slips of social obligation. (similarity 0.89)

Broader Connections

• Hierarchical structures concentrate reusable credit slips of social obligation. #expands (0.92) — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 92
• Trust-based obligations function as exchangeable credit within social relationships. #corroborates (0.85)
• Rotating-credit associations depend on social trust to function. #exemplifies (0.75) — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 85