PUBLIC POLICY, CAPITAL AND DEVELOPMENT CONSTRAINTS. THE CASE OF IRRIGATION IN COLORADO VALLEY HIGH (ARGENTINA)

Currently generalizadamente recognized the importance of social capital as a resource for rural development, especially in the context of projects involving joint participation of the state and civil society. In that perspective, the article analyzes the obstacles experienced by a social settlement project in the Upper Valley of Colorado (Argentina). Following a review of theoretical perspectives on social capital and development are examined, first, the difficulties faced by operators in building social capital and its impact on the productive and territorial evolution. Secondly, it discusses how, contrary to expectations, public policy and institutional design hindered capital formation. We conclude that neither the state nor the operators properly played its role in the project. It also shows the importance of this type of analysis to review the current role of these areas from the perspective of regional and local development.