Urbanization, social networks, and resource sharing in peri-urban communities: a comparative study

Thesis Abstract

Urbanization in peri-urban zones is reshaping social networks and informal resource-sharing practices, with potential implications for resilience, equity, and community cohesion. This study addresses the gap in understanding how rapid urbanization alters the structure and function of social ties and the mechanisms through which these ties facilitate or constrain resource sharing among residents. The aim is to examine, in a comparative framework, how urban pressures influence social network configurations and resource exchange patterns across peri-urban communities with differing development trajectories. Specific objectives are to (i) map and compare social network centrality, density, and multiplexity in two peri-urban contexts; (ii) identify resource-sharing modalities (informal cash, in-kind exchanges, time banking, and mutual aid) and their association with network characteristics; (iii) assess the role of spatial proximity, ethnicity, and formal institutions in shaping sharing practices; (iv) evaluate perceived social capital, trust, and reciprocity as mediators between urbanization stressors and resource sharing; and (v) generate policy-relevant recommendations for fostering equitable, sustainable exchange systems under urban expansion. The study employs a comparative, mixed-methods design conducted in two peri-urban municipalities experiencing different urbanization intensities. The population comprises adult residents (ages 18–65) engaged in long-standing neighborhood networks. A stratified random sample of 600 respondents (300 per site) will be surveyed to obtain egocentric social network data, resource-sharing frequencies, and socio-demographic information. In-depth interviews will be conducted with 40 key informants (20 per site), including community leaders, small-scale traders, and representatives from local NGOs, to capture contextual factors and institutional dynamics. Data collection instruments include a structured social network questionnaire, a resource-sharing inventory, and semi-structured interview guides validated through pilot testing. Validity will be enhanced through triangulation of survey data with interview insights and municipal records on service provision. Reliability will be ensured via Cronbach’s alpha for scales measuring social capital and reciprocity. Analytical approaches combine quantitative and qualitative methods. Descriptive statistics and social network analysis (SNA) will compute network size, density, betweenness, closeness, and multiplexity, with comparisons across sites using independent-samples t-tests and multivariate regression controlling for demographic covariates. Hypotheses will be tested via regression models predicting resource-sharing intensity from network metrics, trust, and perceived urban stress; ANOVA will assess differences across community subgroups. Structural equation modeling (SEM) will examine mediating pathways of social capital between urbanization pressures and resource sharing. Thematic analysis will be applied to interview transcripts to identify recurrent motifs related to trust, legitimacy of exchange, and institutional support. A conceptual model integrating SNA, resource-sharing theory, and social capital theory (including Putnam and Bourdieu-inspired perspectives on capital forms) will guide interpretation and synthesis of results. Key expected findings include (a) denser, more multiplex networks in slower-urbanizing peri-urban areas associated with higher informal resource-sharing intensity, and (b) weaker but more diverse networks in rapidly urbanizing settings, with resource sharing increasingly mediated by formal institutions and market mechanisms. It is anticipated that trust and perceived social capital will mediate the relationship between urbanization stress and the propensity to engage in reciprocal exchanges, while spatial proximity and common identity will strengthen sharing ties. The study aims to reveal how formal governance, land-use change, and market integration reshape the durability and inclusivity of informal exchange systems, potentially exacerbating inequalities if marginalized groups experience network erosion. The study contributes to knowledge by advancing a comparative, empirically grounded understanding of how urbanization reconfigures social networks and resource-sharing ecosystems in peri-urban contexts, integrating SNA with theories of social capital and exchange. Policy implications include designing neighborhood-level interventions that bolster inclusive informal support networks, aligning municipal services with local sharing practices, and fostering institutions that legitimize and protect reciprocal exchanges amidst urban expansion. The concluding recommendations advocate targeted capacity-building for community organizations, transparent resource-routing mechanisms, and policy incentives to maintain social cohesion and resilience in peri-urban development trajectories.