scholarly journals Social economy advancement: from voluntary to secure organizational commitments to public benefit

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen M. Haugh
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Public Benefit ◽  
Legal Structure ◽  
Community Interest ◽  
The Social

Purpose This paper aims to explain the development of the social economy by analyzing when, why and how the community interest company (CIC) legal structure was established in the UK. The CIC legal structure was designed for social enterprise to ensure that company assets are committed to public benefit in perpetuity. Design/methodology/approach This research paper uses archival data and semistructured interviews to analyze the historical development of the social economy, emergence of social enterprise and the establishment of the CIC legal structure. Findings The historical analysis describes why and how the idea for the CIC emerged from practitioners and explains how collaboration between practitioners, lawyers, civil servants and politicians established the CIC as a new legal structure for social enterprise. Practical implications The analysis explains how practitioners influenced policy development and demonstrates how practitioner influence can be usefully incorporated into policy development. Social implications The CIC legal structure advanced the social economy by creating an institutionally recognized brand identity for social enterprise that locks assets to public benefit in perpetuity. Originality/value The paper presents a detailed empirical account of the establishment of a new legal structure for social enterprise and applies theoretical concepts to develop an integrated account of social economy advancement.

Understanding social enterprise, social entrepreneurship and the social economy in rural Cambodia

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Lyne ◽  
Chanrith Ngin ◽  
Emmanuel Santoyo-Rio
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Risk Appetite ◽  
The Social ◽  
Development Agencies

PurposeThis paper critically assesses Western views on the social economy in contrast to everyday realities in a low-income country, and challenges ethnocentric epistemologies in the discourse of social enterprise and social entrepreneurship that is prevalent in international development. It charts the changing trajectory of the social economy and different influences.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data is used to explore views of members of social enterprises in Northern Cambodia. Three enterprises with different characteristics were selected. Semi-structured interviews and a group discussion took place in each case, exploring motivation, values, empowerment, participation, equity, innovation and risk appetite.FindingsThe important roles social enterprises play in rural community development are sometimes at odds with the reasoning of Western development agencies. The social economy in Cambodia is undergoing change with the advancement of capitalist market forces. This suits formal businesses but could exacerbate the exclusion of various community actors.Research limitations/implicationsThree case studies are in close proximity in Northern Cambodia, and the situated dynamics may not transfer well to other contexts. Some limitations are offset by the selection of different types of social enterprises.Practical implicationsThe study gives insights of value to the designers of programmes or projects to support social enterprise who work within international development agencies and non-government organisations. For academics, it offers critical insight into assumptions about social enterprise that emanate from Western management literature.Originality/valueThis paper meets the need for close-up inter-disciplinary work on social enterprise development in under-represented contexts.

A Social Enterprise Company in EU Organisational Law?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-35
Author(s):  
J S LIPTRAP
Keyword(s):  
European Integration ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Member States ◽  
Regulatory Issues ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
The Social ◽  
Proposal A

Abstract This article explores the European Parliament's July 2018 non-legislative resolution proposing to the European Commission a directive for facilitating social enterprise companies’ cross-border activities. The proposal is first situated within the context of the social economy and how the sector has grown in importance to European integration. The proposal and the European Commission's response are then examined. Although the European Commission was not convinced that Member States would be amenable to the proposal, a consensus may already exist that is sufficient to garner their support. Even if this prediction is wrong, however, it is argued that there are reasons to surmise that the proposal will likely be reassessed and ultimately successful at some future point. Finally, the proposal is viewed with a reflexive harmonisation lens. Through the analysis, regulatory issues are identified, and a solution is then suggested.

Transitioning towards low carbon solidarity economies?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter North
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
The Public ◽  
Diverse Economies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Global North ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Socially Excluded

Building on the diverse economies perspective of JK Gibson-Graham, this chapter discusses how conceptions of just and sustainable economies in the context of the Anthropocene can be generated and, more importantly, performed through social and solidarity economies in the global North. It reviews concepts of the SSE in the global North, and discusses the extent that the UK social economy sector has been tamed and neoliberalised as more antagonistic conceptions of co-operative and grassroots economies created by green and socialist activists in the 1970s and 1980s have been transformed into neoliberal conceptions of social enterprise, with an inbuilt assumption that the private sector is more effective than the public. It discusses how in conditions of austerity social enterprise can legitimate the abandonment of socially excluded communities, and that to counter this, the social economy sector in the UK should develop more antagonistic perspectives, learning from Latin Americans. Finally, it discusses the contribution of Transition Initiatives in rekindling conceptions of grassroots sustainable economies.

scholarly journals Social enterprise and wellbeing in community life

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Farmer ◽  
Tracy De Cotta ◽  
Katharine McKinnon ◽  
Jo Barraket ◽  
Sarah-Anne Munoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Boundary Spanning ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Community Life ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mental Mapping

Purpose This paper aims to explore the well-being impacts of social enterprise, beyond a social enterprise per se, in everyday community life. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory case study was used. The study’s underpinning theory is from relational geography, including Spaces of Wellbeing Theory and therapeutic assemblage. These theories underpin data collection methods. Nine social enterprise participants were engaged in mental mapping and walking interviews. Four other informants with “boundary-spanning” roles involving knowledge of the social enterprise and the community were interviewed. Data were managed using NVivo, and analysed thematically. Findings Well-being realised from “being inside” a social enterprise organisation was further developed for participants, in the community, through positive interactions with people, material objects, stories and performances of well-being that occurred in everyday community life. Boundary spanning community members had roles in referring participants to social enterprise, mediating between participants and structures of community life and normalising social enterprise in the community. They also gained benefit from social enterprise involvement. Originality/value This paper uses relational geography and aligned methods to reveal the intricate connections between social enterprise and well-being realisation in community life. There is potential to pursue this research on a larger scale to provide needed evidence about how well-being is realised in social enterprises and then extends into communities.

The Age of No Retirement

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 159-164
Author(s):  
Jonathan Collie
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Healthy Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Era ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Thinking ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the value, often overlooked, inherent within a society where people are living longer, healthier and more productively than ever before. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a summary of the activities, achievements and objectives of “The Age of No Retirement” movement for social change since its inception on 1st October 2014. Findings – The spectacular demand for new thinking and design-led action across all sectors of society to break down the ageist stereotypes that are impeding age-neutral societal progress in the UK. Practical implications – Communities, employers, individuals – EVERYONE – can begin to harness the incredible power of the Xtra 10 (the extra ten years of healthy life expectancy that modern generations can now expect – in the middle of their lives!). Social implications – The social implications are almost limitless – for a new era of over-50 makers, designers, entrepreneurs, workers, leaders, learners, teachers, doers, intergenerational catalysts, etc., the list goes on. Originality/value – The Age of No Retirement is a design-led social enterprise that is driving new thinking in the Age space.

A Study on the Necessity of Enactment of Framework Act on Social Economy: Focusing on the Status and Contents of Si and Gun’s Local Ordinances related to Social Economy in Gyeonggi-do

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-126
Author(s):  
Young Soo Park
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Status ◽  
Local Ordinances ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Specific Definition

Social-economic entities, such as village enterprises and cooperatives, have appeared in addition to social enterprises since the ‘Social Enterprise Promotion Act’ was enacted, and local governments have established ordinances to support them. However, the ordinances have not been generalised and applied as there is no specific definition of ‘Social Economy’ in the applicable parent Act - Social Enterprise Promotion Act. This research aims to revitalise the social economy in local cities and counties in Gyeonggi-do. Thus, the paper has conducted a comparative analysis of the characteristics of the local authorities’ ordinances. The study has identified complex problems of the local ordinances and suggests potential directions for further developments for the ‘Social Economy Ordinances’. The results of the exploration are as follows. Firstly, 27 out of 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi-do have established and implemented the ‘Social Economy Ordinances’; however, most of them have not specified ‘parent laws’ of the ordinances. Secondly, although, the definitions of ‘Social Economy Ordinances’ are varied in individual local governments in Gyeonggi-do, they have been using similar keywords. Thirdly, the target scopes of the policies under the current ‘Social Economy Ordinances’ operated by local authorities are inconsistent and incoherent in terms of the system of norm and effectiveness. Thus, the ordinances are needed to be collectively reorganised and modified when the Basic Act on Social Economy are enacted. Although the scopes of support are proper in terms of the system of effectiveness, it is necessary to improve the post-management sections for the policy of supporting the social economy.

scholarly journals Social Enterprise in Ireland – Why Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) Dominate the Discourse

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary O’Shaughnessy ◽  
Patricia O’Hara
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Policy Discourse ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Us ◽  
Work Integration

AbstractWhat is termed the social economy in Ireland includes charities, co-operatives, voluntary associations and non-profits. However, the label is not widely used to describe them collectively so that many organisations within the wider social economy do not identify themselves with, or even fully understand, the term. The concept of social enterprise first emerged in public policy discourse in the 1990s and, since then, has been mainly viewed as a mechanism of job creation/integration and service provision in disadvantaged communities. This perspective on social enterprise has been significantly influenced by European policy. By contrast, in Irish academic discourse, the interpretation of social enterprise is more varied due to the different influences of the US and European intellectual traditions. These variations have contributed to ambiguity about the social economy as a sector, and social enterprises as distinctive forms, and this has compromised attempts to estimate the scale and potential of the sector in Ireland to date. In 2013, as part of the policy response to the unemployment crisis of the economic recession, the Irish government commissioned an examination of the job-creation potential of social enterprise. The Forfás report offered a new official definition of social enterprise, characterised by many of the features of the EMES ideal type. Furthermore, the description and examples of social enterprises included in the report confirmed the dominance of one model of social enterprise in Ireland – the Work Integration Social Enterprise or WISE. The objective of this paper is to discuss how social economy and social enterprise are understood in Ireland and to explain how WISEs have evolved as the dominant Irish social enterprise model to date. The influence of the US (Salamon and Anheier 1997; Dees 1998) and European/EMES academic traditions (Pestoff 1998; Borzaga and Defourny 2001; Nyssens 2006; Defourny and Nyssens 2010, 2012) and EU and national policy perspectives, since the early 1990s, on Irish academic and policy discourse is discussed in this paper. It is argued that the adoption by successive Irish governments of a labour market integration approach, to supporting the development of the Irish social economy, since the early 1990s, has shaped the sector and contributed to the emergence of one dominant social enterprise type, the WISE. Some of the characteristics and impacts of Irish WISE are then discussed together with the challenges they face.

Frailty – from bedside to buzzword?

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 120-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Manthorpe ◽  
Steve Iliffe
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Subject ◽  
To Come ◽  
Recent Policy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore common usage and understanding of the term “frailty”, which is increasingly used in health care debates in England. Design/methodology/approach – This is a commentary from the perspectives of health and social care researchers. Recent policy and research are drawn upon in the arguments presented. Findings – Most research on the subject of frailty comes from clinical practice although a parallel sociological or gerontological critique of the social construction is emerging. The public is likely to come across the term frailty through the media’s adoption of the term. Different definitions of frailty mean that estimates of the numbers of “frail people” will vary. Research limitations/implications – The commentary draws on material in the English language and on policy, commentary, and research material. Practical implications – The commentary may prompt reflection in practice and policy development on the usage of the term frailty and promote efforts to ensure that its meaning is clear and that it is acceptable to those to whom it is applied. Originality/value – The paper contributes to debates about frailty by considering the implications of using the term across health and social care and in integrated settings and encounters. It draws on medical presentations of the term frailty and on critiques of it as a powerful discourse.

Religion and social economics (a systemic theory of organic unity)

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masudul Alam Choudhury
Keyword(s):  
Phenomenological Model ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Formal Model ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Formal Ontology ◽  
Social Economics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
The Social

Purpose – A methodological study of religion including moral, ethical, and social values and economics takes us into the search, discovery, and establishment of a formal epistemological premise. Social economics is now studied as a methodological investigation of evolutionary and embedded systems integrating the moral, social, and economic systems. Thus an integrated theory of religion representing the realm of moral and social values and economics is formalized. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The author writes on the conjoint methodological perspective of the integrated domain of religion and economics. A formal ontology of the unified field of religion and economics is established in such an inter-causal and organically unified realm of moral, social, and economic values. A phenomenological model of the unified worldview that applies to a systemic concept of “everything” emerges. This methodology and the immanent phenomenological model relating to it convey the principle of inter-systemic organic symbiosis by a unique and universal worldview. Findings – The systemic integration between religion and economics is formally studied within the immanent system methodology that formalizes inter-disciplinary symbiosis. The result is a new formal model of integration between religion and social economics. Research limitations/implications – Empirical work can further expand the scope of the paper. Practical implications – Immense social, ethical, and cross-cultural implications emanate from the study. Social implications – The morality and ethical implications of religious values are imputed in the formal model and implications of the social economy. Originality/value – The paper is of an original nature in establishing the episteme and formalism of integration between ethical and moral values of religion into the structure of the social economy. From this both a theoretical rigor as well as logical formalism can be drawn.

scholarly journals How can social enterprises impact health and well-being?

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 697-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katy Gordon ◽  
Juliette Wilson ◽  
Andrea Tonner ◽  
Eleanor Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of social enterprise on individual and community health and well-being. It focusses on community food initiatives, their impact on the social determinants of health and the influence of structure on their outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Using an interpretive qualitative approach through case studies focussed on two community food social enterprises, the research team conducted observations, interviews and ad hoc conversations. Findings Researchers found that social enterprises impacted all layers of the social determinants of health model but that there was greater impact on individual lifestyle factors and social and community networks. Impact at the higher socio-economic, cultural and environmental layer was more constrained. There was also evidence of the structural factors both enabling and constraining impact at all levels. Practical implications This study helps to facilitate understanding on the role of social enterprises as a key way for individuals and communities to work together to build their capabilities and resilience when facing health inequalities. Building upon previous work, it provides insight into the practices, limitations and challenges of those engaged in encouraging and supporting behavioural changes. Originality/value The paper contributes to a deeper insight of the use, motivation and understanding of social enterprise as an operating model by community food initiatives. It provides evidence of the impact of such social enterprises on the social determinants of health and uses structuration theory (Giddens, 1984) to explore how structure both influences and constrains the impact of these enterprises.

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