Engagement of the Elderly in Time Banking: The Potential for Social Capital Generation in an Aging Society

ABSTRACT

Community currency systems attempt to empower the economically marginalized and build social capital. This research explores the role of the elderly in a local voluntary organization. The elderly are potentially very important contributors, yet we know little about their participation in these local exchange networks. Eighty-seven months' worth of transaction data from a “time bank,” which has had a total of 950 members, was examined in social network analyses. Measures of quantitative engagement in the system were constructed. The elderly were found to be as active as other members. Qualitative characteristics of the network were also explored. The organization is rather homogeneous, yet exchanges within it tend to connect diverse actors. Male and female seniors undertransact with themselves and with one another, generating bridging social capital. The evidence presented suggests that the participation of the elderly in local currencies is mutually beneficial.

KEYWORDS:

• Social networks
• social capital
• volunteering
• informal economy
• community currencies
• elderly

While the time bank studied here will remain anonymous, I would like to thank the staff for their support. Also, thanks to Bob Hanneman, John Baugher, the anonymous reviewers, and the editors for all of their useful feedback on the paper. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 100th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, August 13–16, 2005, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Notes

1. This time bank's directory of services looks quite similar to that of Ithaca Hours. There is a wide range of services being offered, and alternative health care services (e.g., massage and acupuncture) are very popular. Also, like Ithaca, the city in which this time bank is based is politically progressive (Greens are active and represented in local politics) and tolerant (gay and lesbian rights issues are salient).

2. Ten of the 837 individual participants are younger than 18. These youth are children of adult members in the system and engage in supervised exchanges.