Analyzing the Effects of Financial Decentralization on Social Capital in Iran Provinces

Today, one of the policies that some developed countries have chosen in recent decades to deal with all kinds of problems in their society is the implementation of decentralization policy. In other words, the central governments observed that they could not perform their duties properly without the presence and role of local governments, and it is necessary that part of their powers in local and provincial areas be delegated to the relevant units. But the most important form of decentralization is financial decentralization, which has received more attention among economists and politicians in recent years. In addition to financial decentralization, the issue of social capital has entered the economic debate in recent years and has been given serious attention along with other capitals, and in Iran it has also been considered for development and growth. So, in this paper we analyze the effects of financial decentralization on social capital during 2011- 2019 period by using panel data model. The results shows that in the first model, income decentralization, per capita income and economic participation rate have a positive and significant relationship with social capital but inflation and business environment variables have a negative relationship with social capital. Also, the results of second model shows that cost decentralization, per capita income and economic participation rate have a positive and significant relationship with social capital but the variables of inflation and business environment have a negative relationship with social capital.