scholarly journals A Territorial-Driven Approach to Capture the Transformative Momentum of the Social Economy Especially from the Agricultural Cooperatives

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1281
Author(s):  
Juan Ramón Gallego-Bono ◽  
MariaR Tapia-Baranda

In the last few lustrums, the literature has searched for more precise methods to assess the socio-economic importance of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). On that basis, this article offers a new way of assessing the SSE impact, enhancing the understanding of the SSE potential for socio-economic transformation. An evolutionary micro–meso–macro and territorial theoretical framework is developed, utilizing, along with the assistance of a qualitative methodology, studies on the transformation promoted by the SSE on the sugar cane cluster of Veracruz (Mexico). The main results of the article are that the SSE boost beneficiaries, while the protagonists of the transformation cannot be defined a priori, but are rather conformed by transformation vectors promoted by the SSE: their values shared by a wide spectrum of actors, the SSE socio-economic and organizational specificities, and their rooting in the productive system. The fundamental conclusion of the article is the need for a “territorial-driven approach” of the SSE’s impact, compared to the dominant “stakeholder-driven approach”. The main limitations (and suggestions for future studies) are the empirical investigation of a single case, and the need to develop a qualitative and quantitative system of indicators of the transformative drive of SSE.

Author(s):  
Juan José Rojas Herrera

A pesar de la globalización de la economía y los incesantes intentos por subordinar todas las formas de producción a la lógica de la acumulación capitalista, la resistencia de los trabajadores persiste mediante la implementación de diversos modelos de gestión social del trabajo, entre los que destacan los puestos en marcha por los actores de la economía popular, la economía social y la economía solidaria. Precisar la identidad organizacional de estas tres formas de trabajo, para el caso específico de México, constituye el propósito principal del presente artículo, habiéndose identificado que, por su naturaleza, el sistema de trabajo que corresponde a cada una de ellas es de tipo autónomo, asociativo-autogestionario y asociativo-autogestionario-solidario, respectivamente. Despite the globalization of the economy and the incessant attempts to subordinate all forms of production to the logic of capitalist accumulation, the resistance of workers persists through the implementation of various models of social work management, among which the posts launched by the actors of the popular economy, the social economy and the solidarity economy. Specify the organizational identity of these three forms of work, for the specific case of Mexico, is the main purpose of this article, having identified that, by its nature, the work system that corresponds to each of them is of autonomous type, associative-self-management and associative-self-management-solidarity, respectively.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-72
Author(s):  
Maria Ilcheva

In 2018 the Bulgarian Government has launched a new legislation on the enterprises of social and solidarity economy as a political sign for the recognition of the role of social economy sector in the country. This was an expected result from the recent trend of development of the social economy in Bulgaria and the growing visibility of the sector and its consolidation with the policies of the European Union. At European policy level social economy and social enterprises are identified as a key instrument for employment and innovations which have a major role in overcoming the poverty and social exclusion. The aim of the law is to regulate the public relations related with the social and solidarity economy, the types of social enterprises and the measures for their support as well as the conditions and the requirements for the activities of social enterprises. As this is the first Bulgarian law on social economy it provides the bases for a public policy which stimulates the development of sector and establishes clear rules for a registry of social enterprises and a methodology for measuring the social added value. Тhe purpose of the current report is to provide an overview of the new policy and legislation in Bulgaria and to analyze the expected effects on the development of the social economy sector.


Author(s):  
Fabio De Matteis ◽  
Daniela Preite

Accountability in the social economy sector is very important because it is inherent in the nature of the organizations of this sector. The literature on the topic of social accounting and accountability is abundant and highlights the benefits and the criticisms of social reporting. The objective of the chapter arises from the literature review that highlights how more in-depth studies are needed on the characters and role of social accountability in decision-making processes. In order to answer the research question (How is social reporting performed and how does social information influence the decision making of the management in a cooperative?), the single case study methodology has been adopted, considering embedded units of analysis and focusing on the social report of an Italian retail cooperative (COOP Lombardia). Thanks to the analyzed case study, it is possible to conclude that the social report can represent a tool of accountability that also informs future decisions, realizing a circular relationship between results achieved and decisions to be taken.


2013 ◽  
pp. 180-199
Author(s):  
Yolanda Montegut-Salla ◽  
Eduard Cristóbal-Fransi ◽  
Maria Jesús Gómez-Adillón

New technologies in information and communication technology are significantly impacting traditional business models, demonstrating how the relationship between the company and its corresponding value chain is changing in recent years due to the new possibilities they offer. The aim of this chapter is to analyze the current situation of Internet usage and electronic commerce in agri-food cooperatives in the province of Lleida, Spain. To this end, a questionnaire was completed by olive oil and sweet fruit cooperatives in 2010 that addressed the following aspects: computer equipment, Internet connection and presence, and finally, the level of electronic commerce. The results provide information on aspects to consider for ensuring that agricultural cooperatives take full advantage of the opportunities offered by new technologies, resulting in a useful tool for the managers of these organizations as well as for policy makers concerned with encouraging and promoting the social economy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-23
Author(s):  
Zdenko Babić ◽  
Danijel Baturina

The social economy sector in Croatia has been neglected for a long time and has not been recognized as a space for sustainable jobs and the development of a more inclusive and cohesive society, as is the case in many Eastern and Central European countries. On the other hand, social entrepreneurship is a relatively new phenomenon established in this century. The aim of this paper is to assess the trends and challenges of social economy development in Croatia as the newest, last EU member state. On the basis of a secondary data analysis, the paper scrutinizes trends in social economy development. Social entrepreneurship is analysed as a part of the social economy that is strengthening, as well as the economic activity of associations that tends to turn into a social economy or a solidarity economy. The paper will also give an overview of the instances of the institutional context of the development of cooperatives and social enterprises, such as the recent legislative and policy changes, as well as the institutional framework with some insights into recommendations how to promote the development of the social economy sector in Croatia. Keywords: social economy; cooperative sector; social enterprises; Croatia.


Author(s):  
Borrego A. ◽  
Ibarra-Michel J. P. ◽  
Soto-Karass J. G.

The family business in the field of social economy represents the actions and commitments it has with its members and the community, according to the philosophy and principles of the cooperative as a business organization; it also helps to strengthen its social capital and promote family integration.The objective of the study was to analyze the family business as a boost to the social economy from the organizational figure of the cooperative, taking as a case study a tourist cooperative in northern Sinaloa, Mexico. This business has more than 30 years’ operating as a cooperative society and is in its third generation, is made up of 15 members, members of the same family who in turn hold the main positions at the general assembly. The research was conducted as a case studywith a qualitative methodology approach, collecting data through observation, review of documents and semi-structured interviews to key family members.The results indicate that the family and cooperative business, share decision-making and collective well-being, promoting the social economy by working together and distributing goods fairly; allowing the continuity of the company for the next generation.


Obiter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rochelle le Roux

South Africa is plagued by high unemployment, extreme poverty and a worrying skills deficit. Job creation strategies focus on the formal economy, but some argue that the focus should shift to policies that would help with the expansion and development of the social (or solidarity) economy that exists alongside the public and private sectors. This sector is driven mainly by a concern to better the interests of their members, or to fulfil a public benefit, rather than to maximize profits. It has been argued that cooperatives provide a suitable vehicle for organizing workers in this sphere. Jackson (Prosperity Without Growth, 2011), in advancing the idea of a sustainable economy, calls for macro-economic interventions that, inter alia, include a structural transition to service-based activities and working-time policies aimed at thefacilitation of shared work. The former strategy (structural transition to service-based activities), although developed in a completely different context, shares many synergies with the underlying notions associated with the development of a social economy. It evolves around business models providing services which are resource-light, but which are not the same as the service sector development which,worldwide, is associated with a concomitant decline in the primary and secondary sectors.The article explores, first, the potential of the social economy as a site for the creation of decent jobs and the possible role in this regard of structures such as cooperatives and, second, whether any meaningful lessons can be drawn in this regard from the research that has be done on the “greening” of economic growth.


Author(s):  
Anabel Rieiro

The social and solidarity economy is a widely used concept to indicate economic logics based on solidarity and the centrality of sustainability in life, differentiating them from the hegemonic economy unilaterally based on rational individualism, the maximization of profits, and the free market. It involves dynamic and specific sociohistoric constructions. In Uruguay, cooperative organizations, which have been in existence for more than a century, are traditionally identified with these types of practices. Cooperativism developed in dialogue with the distinct stages of Uruguayan history and over the last fifteen years, these experiences have tripled, based on the strengthening of public policies for the promotion and support of the sector. Institutional consolidation and the long trajectory of distinct sectors of cooperativism, mutualism, and rural development societies tend to be identified with the social economy. On the other hand, around the dawn of the new century, there emerged a diversity of forms of organization and networks which emphasized the need for social transformation, appealing to practices based on solidarity and reciprocity, both between people and between them and the environment. In general, these are decentralized structures which, in a regional context marked by the socioeconomic crisis and the slogan of the World Social Forum of “another world is possible,” organize economic activities according to the principles of democratic management, cooperation, autonomy, and transformation.


Author(s):  
Peter North ◽  
Molly Scott Cato

This chapter sets the scene for the edited collection which follows it, recounting the findings of an international conversation on the social and solidarity economies between participants from Europe and Latin America. It discusses problems and possibilities for learning and policy transference between different places, acknowledging the power relations involved between global north and south, centre and periphery. It introduces a four part conceptualisation of the social and solidarity economy sector between Social Enterprise and Social Entrepreneurship; the inclusive Social Economy; the Solidarity Economy, working on conceptions of how we want to live in a climate constrained world, and the Antagonistic Economy, challenging pathological aspects of contemporary neoliberalism.


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