Abstract

The industrial district of Vigevano is generally considered as characterized by a lack of social cooperation. Using network analysis this essay shows that entrepreneurial networks are rich in social capital but are little connected with the rest of Vigevano society. This fact accounts for the low level of social status of the entrepreneurial world in Vigevano society. The internal relations of the entrepreneurial networks generate various forms of cooperation and strong ties. These relations are strengthened by the presence of informal and institutional "diffusers of trust". The strength of these ties explains how a traditional industrial district like Vigevano has been able to compete successfully in the international competition of the footwear machine industry.