Do workers really benefit from their social networks?

This paper provides a simple matching model in which unemployed workers and employers can be matched together through social networks or through more ?formal? methods of search. We show that, in some case, networks substitute for labor market and that this crowding-out effect may be socially costly. For that reason, a policy increasing the social capital of the disadvantaged workers can increase the unemployment rate and decrease workers? output. JEL Classification: E24, J64, J68, Z13.