Research on the Impact of Social Capital on Promoting Cooperative Behavior: Based on the Tea Industry Cluster in Anhui Province

Based on the theory of social capital and collective efficiency, this study aimed to analyze the impact of social capital on cooperative behavior by using the survey data of tea industry cluster in Anhui province. The results displayed that cooperative behavior was widespread in the agricultural industry cluster, and the social capital accumulated in the clusters had a certain impact on the cooperative behavior, which can promote the cooperation behavior between the subjects. The base farmers of tea enterprises or cooperatives had accumulated a large amount of social capital through social networks, and were more inclined to establish horizontal cooperative relationships with other tea farmers. At the same time, they were also more willing to establish vertical cooperative relationships with tea enterprises or cooperatives. In addition, the establishment of a trust relationship between tea farmers and tea enterprises or cooperatives also had a certain impact on cooperative behavior. The higher the tea farmers’ trusted in tea enterprises or tea cooperatives, the easier it was to establish vertical cooperative relationships. Finally, the paper put forward relevant policy suggestions.