[PDF] Social Enterprises And Their Ecosystems In Europe eBook

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Page : pages
File Size : 16,75 MB
Release : 2019
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ISBN : 9789279980718

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The origins of Estonian social enterprises can be traced back to at least the 19th century Soviet period when work integration was common. Socialism’s transition to a liberal free-market economy heavily influenced the evolution of social enterprises. Estonia’s current view of these enterprises as ‘civil society’ emerged from the third sector. Foreign aid and donations in the 1990s that have continued since 2002 have advanced the country’s civil society concept. Funding has also had a major influence on the social enterprise sector’s development. In this period, a number of civil society organisations developed a de facto social enterprise model. Use of the term ‘social enterprise’ can be traced back to 2005 in Estonia when the concept of ‘social entrepreneurship’ was first introduced. Currently, the terms social entrepreneurship and social enterprise are used interchangeably with little distinction between the former (mindset/trend cutting across different sectors—private, public and non-profit) and the latter (type of institution/ typology of enterprise).

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Page : pages
File Size : 34,25 MB
Release : 2019
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ISBN : 9789279978524

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Until recently, the term "social enterprise" was almost absent in political and practitioners' discourses. The term first emerged in international research projects, though it did not gain traction on the ground. The concept of social enterprise finds use in five different traditions. Social solidarity cooperatives associated to the cooperative/social economy tradition, social insertion enterprises mostly created and sustained by employment promotion public policies in partnership with non-profit organisations (NPOs), and a charitable tradition in the statute of Private Institutions of Social Solidarity (Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social or IPSSs) and similar NPOs operating in welfare, and social solidarity enterprises, related to a voluntary engagement tradition. And yet, these organisations rarely describe themselves as social enterprises. In a more recent development, the term social enterprise came to the fore in policy documents and practitioners' discourses with the influence of European Union (EU) institutions and frameworks. Here, the concept of social enterprise assumes the meaning of a commercial enterprise with social aims or a mix of social economy organisations (SEOs) and commercial enterprises. One better understands the very different meanings of social enterprise when relating it with the neighbourhood concepts of social economy, solidarity economy, social entrepreneurship and social innovation. Indeed, the main obstacle for the further development of social enterprises in Portugal is the lack of debate, clarification and some sort of agreement about its meanings.

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Page : pages
File Size : 34,60 MB
Release : 2019
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ISBN : 9789279979057

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Social enterprises in Denmark are mirrors of the dynamic interplay between state, market and civil society that has shaped the particularities of this type of welfare state. Accordingly, social enterprise does not yet exist as a field in its own right with a capacity to exist independent of fluctuations and changes of policies at national and local level. Many civil society organizations maintain an interest in some innovative and entrepreneurial elements of social enterprise without becoming full-fledged social enterprises. In 2018, stakeholders’ repeatedly argued that it only takes the implementation of the recommendations from the National Committee on Social Enterprise to establish an efficient ecosystem for social enterprise in Denmark. The policy recommendations forwarded immediately before and after the adoption of the law on social enterprise in 2014 marked the beginning of a new era of action, advocacy and collaboration between social enterprise stakeholders. It served as a legitimisation of a national ecosystem. The collective energy and momentum was short-lived and disrupted by changes of government and policy attention. However, the third sector experience a high degree of innovative capacity and with the longstanding tradition of collaboration between civil society organizations and the public sector, social enterprise has established itself as an institutional partner although at a lower level than anticipated by stakeholders in 2014.

Author : Mary O'Shaughnessy
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Page : pages
File Size : 38,28 MB
Release : 2020
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ISBN : 9789276102168

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In Ireland, social enterprises are regarded as a business model that tackles social, economic or environmental issues. Viewed as a small but growing part of the enterprise base, there is widespread acknowledgment of their increasing contribution to national, regional and local social and economic development. The term social enterprise first emerged in the 1990s. Discourse was influenced by a 1995 National Economic Social Forum (NESF) study on the service sector's job potential. At that time, main drivers included the Irish government and advocacy groups for the long-term unemployed. By 1997, PLANET--the Partnership Network for Irish area-based partnerships with responsibility for unemployment--had published two position papers. The Irish government responded by establishing the Partnership 2000 Working Group on the Social Economy, which recommended a national social economy programme. This was established in 2000 and later revamped as the Community Services Programme (CSP) in 2006. During the past decade, two developments have particularly propelled social enterprises to greater prominence: the economic crisis and the emergence of advocacy organisations. The former refocused policy attention on job creation. The latter presents the sector's potential for employment creation and effective service provision. The sector's perceived significance for national economic recovery was reflected in the Programme of Government for 2011-2016. Moreover, the Government's Action Plan for Jobs 2012 advocated a report, published in 2013, that assesses the sector's potential for job creation. It was followed by the appointment of a cross-departmental "Minister for Social Enterprise". Then an Interdepartmental Working Group was formed, focusing on the social enterprise agenda in the EU Ireland Partnership Agreement and Operational Programmes for 2014-2020. Nevertheless, further developments continue to drive the social enterprise agenda. Of greatest significance is the 2019 publication of Ireland's first National Social Enterprise Policy by the Department of Community and Rural Development (DCRD). It conceives social enterprises as businesses whose core objective is to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact through the trade of goods or services on an ongoing basis with generated surpluses re-invested in social impact. The policy is aimed at supporting social enterprises and is focused on three objectives: (i) building awareness of social enterprise; (ii) growing and strengthening social enterprise; and (iii) achieving better policy alignment.

Author : Mario Biggeri
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 214 pages
File Size : 12,16 MB
Release : 2018-09-21
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 1351239015

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This book provides comprehensive and advanced analysis of the characteristics of social entrepreneurship in Europe. It offers innovative, up-todate research on the ecosystems of social entrepreneurship, the behavior of social entrepreneurs, their ability to produce social innovation, social capital and social inclusion, and the role of stakeholders in fostering socially oriented businesses. Moreover, it addresses the diversity of the European social enterprise sector from an evolutionary perspective, with particular reference to the rise of social entrepreneurship and the role of new-generation social entrepreneurs throughout Europe. Multidisciplinary contributions authored by experts from business and accounting, economics, and sociology serve the purpose of delivering a holistic study of social entrepreneurship, also providing the necessary data for delivering policy implications on the features of the most effective enabling social and institutional ecosystems. The broad approach, based on different theoretical frameworks and methodologies across numerous disciplines, enables the authors to tackle all of the complex research issues connected to social entrepreneurship in the region. The book builds on the results of the European Union 7FP (European Union’s Research and Innovation funding program for 2007–013)-funded “EFESEIIS – Enabling the flourishing and evolution of social entrepreneurship for innovative and inclusive societies” research project. The central theme of the book is an evolutionary perspective on the dynamics and the rise of the social enterprise in Europe. This evolutionary perspective can be used in an economic as well as a social longitudinal analysis of changing contexts and entrepreneurial practices. The evolutionary perspective will be used as a tool to account for the specificity of developmental pathways in different contexts and countries.

Author : Carlo Borzaga
Publisher :
Page : pages
File Size : 15,51 MB
Release : 2020
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ISBN : 9789279977343

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The understanding of the current size, scope and state of social enterprises in Europe lags behind their proliferation and the rising interest they generate among policymakers, researchers and practitioners. Aware of this gap, the European Commission launched two mapping studies as follow-ups to its 2011 communication on the Social Business Initiative (SBI). The first study was conducted in 2014 and mapped social enterprise activity and ecosystems in 29 countries using a common definition and approach. Following this initial effort, an update was launched in seven selected countries in 2016, until a complete update of the 28 Member States plus seven neighbouring countries participating in the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) Programme was carried out in 2018-2020. The resulting updated mapping study covers (i) the historical background and conditions of the emergence of social enterprises; (ii) the evolution of the concept and the existing national policy and legal framework for social enterprise; (iii) the scale and characteristics of social enterprise activity; (iv) networks and mutual support mechanisms; v) research, education and skills development; and (vi) the resources available to social enterprises. The study also provides insights on the factors constraining the development of social enterprise, a reflection on the debate currently at play in national contexts, and an overview of possible developmental trends. A stakeholders' engagement strategy aimed at capturing insights and analysis stemming from various agents within the ecosystem was carried out as well as an indepth review of academic and grey literature and national policy documents regarding social enterprise. A specific comparative effort is reflected in the present synthesis report, which goes beyond the observation of social enterprise in each country to identify transnational trends with a view to generating solid knowledge to inform EU, national and local policies and social enterprises to stimulate mutual learning and to inspire common agendas.

Author : Francesca Petrella
Publisher :
Page : pages
File Size : 31,23 MB
Release : 2020
Category :
ISBN : 9789276102144

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Although France has been a pioneer in the development of the concept of "social economy", the term "social enterprise" is less used than in some other European countries. The limited use of the notion of social enterprise in France can no doubt be linked to the particularity of the process of legitimation, structuring and institutionalisation from which a new constellation that also includes forms of social enterprises and is referred to as the social and solidarity economy (SSE) emerged. With the adoption of a framework law dedicated to the SSE in 2014, France has given a legal ground to this term and has opted for a broad definition of SSE. Besides associations, cooperatives, mutual societies and foundations, which are typically considered as the core of the social economy, the law opens up the field of the SSE to commercial companies whose economic activity is addressed towards the pursuit of social utility and whose management respects a set of conditions concerning in particular the limited redistribution of profits but not only. While providing for a symbolic recognition of the SSE as a sector, the French legislator has also acknowledged the emergence of social enterprise as a specific dynamic within the SSE landscape. Noteworthy is that the definition of "solidarity enterprise of social utility" (entreprise solidaire d'utilité sociale, ESUS), as regulated by Article 11 of the 2014 law, is fully aligned with the EU operational definition of social enterprise.

Author : Carlo Borzaga
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Page : pages
File Size : 44,30 MB
Release : 2020
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ISBN : 9789276102182

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The history of social enterprise in Italy is closely linked to the characteristics and evolution of its welfare system. It spans nearly 40 years, encompassing diverse trends across the various organisational types that make up the social enterprise spectrum. These are: (i) social cooperatives, (ii) entrepreneurial associations and foundations, (iii) limited liability companies, and (iv) traditional cooperatives and mutual aid societies. Building upon a rather undersized non-profit sector that was traditionally focussed on advocacy activities, social enterprise has developed in different stages. In the first stage, voluntary organisations and social cooperatives were the crucial actors. Then, associations and foundations shifting towards a stronger entrepreneurial stance began to play an increasingly relevant role. Finally, limited liability companies qualified as social enterprises because pursuing explicit social aims and adopting inclusive governance have come into play. Social enterprise initiatives were initially boosted by the strong tradition of civic engagement dating back to the pre-war period and sometimes connected to the Catholic culture. In the 1960s and 1970s, a number of activists inspired by either civic or religious engagement became the promoters of new bottom-up initiatives aimed at advocating the rights of vulnerable social groups against the profound transformations affecting Italian society. They set up new organisations--associations and "social solidarity cooperatives"--relying heavily on volunteers with the aim of supplying social services and integrating disadvantaged people into work. The progressive recognition of voluntary organisations and social cooperatives and the growth and diversification of needs arising in society have increasingly attracted public resources. As a result, over the years, such initiatives have grown dramatically in number, stimulating a collective debate as to the most suitable organisational arrangement for both guaranteeing a sufficient supply of welfare services and exploiting the contributions of civil society.

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Page : pages
File Size : 10,97 MB
Release : 2020
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ISBN : 9789276143000

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In recent years, social enterprises have increased progressively in size and relevance and have attracted significant interest from diverse stakeholders-including researchers, policymakers, public administrations, international institutions and financial intermediaries-in most European countries. Yet, social enterprises are less visible than their diffusion would warrant, and many stakeholders struggle to understand their nature. To follow up its Social Business Initiative (SBI) and to strengthen the visibility and recognition of the social enterprise, the European Commission ordered a study to "map social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe". The first study was published in stages over 2014 and 2015. The present mapping study updates the 2014-2015 study in light of the rapidly changing landscape. Moreover, it contributes to advancing the estimation of the overall number of organisations that can be understood as social enterprises and to identifying country commonalities and variations. To accomplish these goals, the 2018-2020 mapping study has involved diverse actors: more than 70 researchers including national researchers, members of the advisory board and experts in specific fields such as statistics, and more than 750 stakeholders who contributed critical insights. This complex framework has enabled the updating of 28 country reports for EU Member States and the production of seven baseline country fiches for non-EU countries (Albania, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey) for a total of 35 national reports. Additionally, it has allowed for the analysis of more than 100 concrete examples of good practices of social enterprises operating in diverse fields of general interest, and it has contributed to 50 exploratory case studies in 11 countries. Various challenges have emerged during the study, particularly the strong countryspecificity of the social enterprise phenomenon, which reflects diverse traditions and institutional contexts, and the rapidly evolving policy frameworks relevant for social enterprises in the diverse countries.

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Page : pages
File Size : 37,76 MB
Release : 2019
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ISBN : 9789279980725

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Cyprus has a long history and tradition of socially oriented activity performed by associations, foundations and volunteer groups. Notions of altruism, expressions of kindness and the impulse to "help one another" are customary characteristics of the Cypriot people that are still evident today. The sense of solidarity that drives social enterprise can be found within Cyprus' cooperative sector, which began almost 80 years ago and continues to this day. However, "social enterprise" itself is a recent phenomenon on the island and the sector is still underdeveloped. The term was introduced in 2010 when a major event was held on the topic. Thereafter, several initiatives were initiated. Four main drivers have been identified as the primary roots or forces behind the country's social enterprise development: 1) the private driver; 2) the associative/foundation driver; 3) the cooperative driver; and 4) the policy driver.