Social Economy

Social Capital, Small Business and Entrepreneurship (in Greece)

by Kostas Mavreas

ARCHIVES OF ECONOMΙC HΙSTORY
v. XX, No 2 July - December 2008

TÁRKI - Monitor pension developments through micro socio-economic instruments based on individual data sources

by TARKI Social Research Institute

Final Report for The European Commission
Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
DG EMPL E4 Unit

Submitted by:
TARKI Social Research Institute (Hungary)
Prepared by:
Róbert I. Gál
András Horváth
Gábor Orbán
in collaboration with
Gijs Dekkers (FPB, Belgium)

TARKI Social Research Institute was awarded a contract by the European Commission to prepare a feasibility study on... more TARKI Social Research Institute was awarded a contract by the European Commission to prepare a feasibility study on “Monitoring pension developments through micro socioeconomic
instruments based on individual data sources”. From the onset the project was designed so as to

- Inform on the state of development of instruments used by Member States to monitor life time earnings and related acquisition of pension rights
- Provide descriptions of available tools, such as data sets and models of prospective pension outcomes based on individual data sources
- Identify and characterise tools, in particular where they already exist and where they could be further developed (notably needs for adequate data sources, need for building models).
- Analyse and describe both the administrative and survey data used for the prospective models of pension outcomes across all Member States (where such instruments exist) and elaborate a classification of instruments built to assess future developments
of pension benefits, based on individual information
- Characterise the various results available and review them as well as those likely to be derived through such instruments

Greek Social Economy at the crossroads: Law 4019/2011 and the institutionalization challenge

by Ioannis Nasioulas

Cadre conceptuel pour définir la population statistique de l'économie sociale au Québec

by Marie J. Bouchard

L'innovation sociale en économie sociale

by Marie J. Bouchard

A propos de l'hétérogénéité des formes organisationnelles de l'économie sociale: isomorphisme versus écologie des organisations en économie sociale

by Marie J. Bouchard

Co-authored with Damien Rousselière, to be published in Revue canadienne de sociologie/Canadian Sociology Review

This paper addresses the problem of the diversity of social economy organizational forms. Two theoretical approaches... more This paper addresses the problem of the diversity of social economy organizational forms. Two theoretical approaches (organizational ecology and neo-institutionalism approach focusing on institutional isomorphism) establish the main forces and determinants of these organizational forms. With data from a survey on Montreal social economy, we use non-parametric (K-nearest neighbors discriminant analysis) and parametric (latent class analysis) methods to test these two concurrent theories. As a conclusion, we discuss the established stylized facts. Our results are supportive of the organizational ecology approach.

Cooperatives and nonprofit organizations in Swedish social welfare

by Filip Wijkström

This is a copy of an article published in the journal Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics (67:1, 1996)

ABSTRACT:

The Swedish welfare system was early on developed in an
incremental fashion in close... more ABSTRACT:

The Swedish welfare system was early on developed in an
incremental fashion in close interaction between the state and a range of voluntary social movement organizations. Consequently, Swedish civil society organizations do not quite fit accepted typologies, with regard to underlying normative principles, fields of activity and organizational forms. The absolute size of the Swedish nonprofit sector is comparable with that of other European countries. However, the bulk of its activity is within policy formulation, rather than service provision; concepts of membership and ‘popular movement ’ are central, and charitable organizations are marginal.

In this article, he spread of existing organizational forms is reviewed, with particular reference to the role of cooperatives. New cooperative users’ and producers’ organizations play an important role in the current expansion of third-sector organizations providing welfare services. Three cases of new cooperative forms in the 1990s are appended.

Cooperatives and nonprofit organizations in Swedish social welfare

by Filip Wijkström

This is a copy of an article published in the journal Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics (67:1, 1996)

ABSTRACT:

The Swedish welfare system was early on developed in an
incremental fashion in close... more ABSTRACT:

The Swedish welfare system was early on developed in an
incremental fashion in close interaction between the state and a range of voluntary social movement organizations. Consequently, Swedish civil society organizations do not quite fit accepted typologies, with regard to underlying normative principles, fields of activity and organizational forms. The absolute size of the Swedish nonprofit sector is comparable with that of other European countries. However, the bulk of its activity is within policy formulation, rather than service provision; concepts of membership and ‘popular movement ’ are central, and charitable organizations are marginal.

In this article, he spread of existing organizational forms is reviewed, with particular reference to the role of cooperatives. New cooperative users’ and producers’ organizations play an important role in the current expansion of third-sector organizations providing welfare services. Three cases of new cooperative forms in the 1990s are appended.

"Charity Speak and Business Talk". The on-going (re)hybridization of Civil Society.

by Filip Wijkström

This is one of the chapters in the edited volume "Nordic Civil Society at a Cross-Roads. Transforming the Popular Movement Tradition" (eds. Wijkström & Zimmer; Nomos 2011).

For more information about the book from the publisher, please visit:

http://www.civil-society.nomos.de/volumes/volume-12/

Abstract: This chapter paints a broad picture of the transformations that the Nordic civil societies and their... more Abstract: This chapter paints a broad picture of the transformations that the Nordic civil societies and their organizations are currently undergoing by putting the present developments into historical perspective. Focusing throughout the discussion on the two fundaments on which civil society rests – its organizations and its people – I analyze the ways in which these are presently changing character and opening up to new ways of organizing. The century-long dominance of popular movement organizations is seen to be giving way to a more heterogeneous flora of organizational forms, where provision of services – as opposed to (traditionally strong) advocacy – is gradually gaining importance. The long-marginalized 19th century tradition of charity is observed to re-emerge as a legitime practice of civil society in the 21st century. At the same time, and after having during much of the 20th century looked to the welfare state for inspiration and partnerships, Nordic civil society organizations are today increasingly turning towards the business sphere. They are borrowing organizational models and internalizing patterns of thought that originate in the world of corporations. Together, these developments are suggested to lead to a new wave of re-hybridization of the Nordic civil societies and their organizations.

L'évaluation de l'économie sociale au Québec, entre parties prenantes, mission et identité organisationnelle

by Marie J. Bouchard

Civil Society Generating Innovation: Co-operative and Associative Housing

by Marie J. Bouchard

Database on social economy: The qualification criteria

by Marie J. Bouchard

Co-authored with Cyrille Ferraton and Valérie Michaud, working paper leading to a published article: «First Steps of an Information System on the Social Economy : Qualifying the Organizations», Estudios de Economía Aplicada, vol. 26 no 1, avril 2008, p. 7-24. http://www.revista-eea.net/volumen.php?Id=65&vol=26&ref=1

Although it has a rich history, the social economy does not yet have a clear, unanimously supported definition. This... more Although it has a rich history, the social economy does not yet have a clear, unanimously supported definition. This makes it difficult to delineate and follow the evolution of the social economy for statistical purposes. Some definitions of the social economy only incorporate the non-market components, and others, only market-based ones. This text proposes a new approach which groups together both the non-market and market components of the social economy. Four qualification criteria are proposed which allow us to situate, along four continuums, the degree to which organizations correspond to these criteria.

Changing Roles - Gender Differences in Poverty in an International Comparison

by TARKI Social Research Institute

Title of the Hungarian original: Szerepváltozások. Jelentés a nők és férfiak helyzetéről 2005
© TÁRKI, 2005
© Ifjúsági, Családügyi, Szociális és Esélyegyenlőségi Minisztérium, 2005

This book was published in English language with the support of the UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women, Central and Eastern Europe Regional Office, Bratislava).

English translation:
Anna Babarczy (papers 6-12)
Tibor Radványi (Introduction, papers 1-5, Bibliography)
Ildikó Nagy (Register of Researchers)

Language Editor: Clive Liddiard-Maár
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
© TÁRKI Social Research Institute, 2006
© Ildikó Nagy, 2006
© Marietta Pongrácz, 2006
© István György Tóth, 2006
ISBN 963 7869 39 5
Cover Design: Péter Maczó
Typography: András Nyíri

The current study examines gender differences in the various dimensions of pov-erty with the help of the Laeken... more The current study examines gender differences in the various dimensions of pov-erty with the help of the Laeken indicators. Comparison of the male and female populations in terms of the incidence and depth of poverty is carried out using the most recent available dataset that is best suited to a cross-sectional comparison.

Database on social economy organizations: The qualification criteria

by Marie J. Bouchard

Cadre conceptuel pour définir la population statistique de l'économie sociale au Québec

by Marie J. Bouchard

Co-authored with Paulo Cruz Filho and Martin St-Denis
A report for the Quebec Statistics Institute
In French

There are no official statistics about social economy in Québec (nor in Canada). Existing data is partial, comprising... more There are no official statistics about social economy in Québec (nor in Canada). Existing data is partial, comprising only one or the other component of social economy (cooperatives, mutuals or non-profit organizations), or covering only one region. This report presents a conceptual framework to guide the data collection and the production of statistics which are coherent and comparable regarding Québec’s social economy. The objective is also to contribute to the development of analytical research on social economy by identifying relevant indicators to quantitatively describe it. The Definition of Social Economy adopted in Québec in 1996, like other definitions used elsewhere in the world, underlines the primacy of social purpose over economic activity. Starting from this definition, the resulting conceptual framework establishes the type of entities, the legal status, sectors of activity and a cluster of qualification criteria of social economy organizations. It also establishes a typology of organizations. The conceptual framework also allows assessing the peripheral components in this field and forecasting its own progress. The conceptual framework must be quite general to establish the fact that the social economy is part of an international movement and at the same time specific enough to properly reflect its Québec originality.

La social stock exchange au Portugal: un nouvel allié de l’économie sociale

by Empreendedorismo Social em Portugal

III Congresso Internacional de Investigação em Economía Social
Organização: CIRIEC Internacional

Tema do Congresso: «La Economía Social, pilar de un nuevo modelo de desarrollo económico sostenible»

Book Review of "Living Economics: Canadian Perspectives on the Social Economy, Co-operatives, and Community Economic Development," Edited by J. J. McMurtry. Toronto, ON: Edmond Montgomery Publications, 2010. 279 pp. ISBN 781552392829.

by Marcelo Vieta

(2010, Fall). ANSERJ: Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research / Revue canadienne de recherche sur les OSBL et l’économie sociale, 1(1), pp. 105-109.

The Canadian social economy is thriving. From thousands of co-operatives to hundreds of community economic development... more The Canadian social economy is thriving. From thousands of co-operatives to hundreds of community economic development projects and from myriad non-profits to a burgeoning number of social enterprise initiatives, Canada’s social economy encompasses a wide array of alternative economic practices serving most communities in all regions of the country. But, despite a multi-billion-dollar force within the Canadian economy, the social economy is highly contested among academics, policymakers, and even practitioners, who argue about how to conceptualize it and what practices it encompasses. In fact, Canada’s social economy is not yet very well understood, even by those who work within it.

This book aims to get at a deeper understanding of what is meant by the social economy in Canada. Taken collectively, all eight chapters of Living Economics agree that the social economy as an “organizing concept” should take into account organizations that are autonomously managed by members or community stakeholders, that are neither directly state-controlled nor strictly for-profit, and that serve the social needs of members and stakeholders via clear social objectives.

Living Economics has much to commend it. It goes a long way toward—finally—beginning to map out the multi-hued and multicultural dimensions of the social economy in Canada.

The New Cooperativism

by Marcelo Vieta

(2010). Editorial for guest-edited issue of Affinities: A Journal of Radical Theory, Culture, and Action, 4 (1), pp. 1-11.

Cooperative practices and values that challenge the status quo while, at the same time, creating alternative modes of... more Cooperative practices and values that challenge the status quo while, at the same time, creating alternative modes of economic, cultural, social, and political life have emerged with dynamism in recent years. The 15 articles in this issue of _Affinities_--written by activists, coop practitioners, theorists, historians, and researchers--begin to make visible some of the myriad modes of cooperation existing today around the world that both directly respond to new enclosures and crises and show pathways beyond them. Prefiguring other possibilities for organizing life and provisioning for our needs and desires, we call these cooperative experiments "the new cooperativism."

Table of Contents for the Affinities issue on 'The New Cooperativism' (Guest edited by Marcelo Vieta)

Editorial

The New Cooperativism HTML PDF
Marcelo Vieta

Historicizing and Theorizing the New Cooperativism

The Cooperative Movement in Century 21
John Curl

Commons and Cooperatives
Greig de Peuter, Nick Dyer-Witheford

Sisyphus and the Labour of Imagination: Autonomy, Cultural Production, and the Antinomies of Worker Self-Management
Stevphen Shukaitis

A Buzz between Rural Cooperation and the Online Swarm
Andrew Gryf Paterson

The Sangham Strategy: Lessons for a Cooperative Mode of
Production
Sourayan Mookerjea

Practicing the New Cooperativism

Decomposition and Suburban Space
Conor Cash
Justseeds Artists' Cooperative
Dara Greenwald

Solidarity Food Economies?
J Howard

Cooperatives and the 'Bolivarian Revolution' in Venezuela
Tom Malleson

Social Centres and the New Cooperativism of the Common
Andre Pusey

The New University Cooperative: Reclaiming Higher Education: Prioritizing Social Justice and Ecological Sustainability
E. Wilma van der Veen

Researching the New Cooperativism
Recycling Technologies and Cooperativism: Waste-for-Life
Caroline Baillie, Eric Feinblatt

Italian Social Cooperatives and the Development of Civic Capacity: A Case of Cooperative Renewal?
Vanna Gonzales

The Universe of Worker-Recovered Companies in Argentina (2002-2008): Continuity and Changes Inside the Movement
Héctor Palomino, Ivanna Bleynat, Silvia Garro, Carla Giacomuzzi

Praxis, Learning, and New Cooperativism in Venezuela: An Initial Look at Venezuela's Socialist Production Units
Manuel Larrabure

Wall Street to Main Street: Economic Disparity has One Common Concern

by Dhiman Chowdhury

The continued anti-corporation protests that now sprung around the world lacks contemplation of one common concern:... more The continued anti-corporation protests that now sprung around the world lacks contemplation of one common concern: the undertow that ostensibly wafts in corporations exist in our society too.  In fact, we are in part responsible. Solution to this predicament is to instigate behavioral change. The OCBS (Organizational Citizenship Behavior towards Sustainability) formulation is pragmatic and judicious to this aspect and shown promising result.

Awakening the Sleeping Giant: Interstitial Transformation and the Cooperative Movement

by Mark Kaswan

This paper was presented as part of a roundtable at the American Political Science Association meeting in Seattle in September, 2011, on Erik Olin Wright's recent book, "Envisioning Real Utopias".

Erik Olin Wright’s recent new book, Envisioning Real Utopias is an important contribution to an expanding literature... more Erik Olin Wright’s recent new book, Envisioning Real Utopias is an important contribution to an expanding literature that attempts to articulate both a vision for a radical egalitarian and democratic society and a strategy for achieving it. The cooperative movement is often given an important role in this literature, although it is rarely considered in a thorough or critical manner. Wright’s book is no exception to this. This essay seeks to deepen the discussion of the cooperative movement by historicizing it, so as to reveal its ideological foundations, and providing both a fuller and a more critical account of the contemporary movement than Wright provides.