Forms of Social Capital among European Retirement Migrants in the Valencian Community

This article analyzes social capital among European pensioners retired in Valencia. The objects of the study are associations and clubs for European retired migrants. We analyzed the self-advertisement of these associations and conducted 18 structured interviews with key informants. In addition, we also conducted a case study of an association whose objective is the improvement of the access to health services. We found a predominance of bonding capital: strong intra-group identity and lack of contact with the host society. We suggest that this transnational social space of retirees causes a fourth form of social capital, linking bonding capital, through the setting of vertical links to strengthen the group, based on the perception of a similar identity and trust in power and resource endowments