Social enterprises – is that it?
A recently published research study connects the many dots of a significant area in contemporary economics
Social enterprises, lying between the public sector and profit-oriented companies, are hybrid entities that need to be understood rather than simply be considered benevolent businesses. Social enterprises make for a complex topic that needs to be approached with great care – also considering the headway these entities are gaining – in terms of the potential that such organisations offer and the particular production culture they embody.
Thus, “L’impresa sociale: dai concetti teorici all’applicazione a livello di policy” (“Social enterprises: from theoretical concepts to policy applications”) by Giulia Galera and Stefania Chiomento, published at the beginning of 2022, makes for very useful reading. It is a contribution that well summarises the current state of play of studies and practices undertaken in this area of economics.
“Over the past 20 years,“ write the two researchers in the first pages of this paper, “we have witnessed an extraordinary increase in interest concerning this diverse cluster of entities situated between the public sector and profit-oriented companies. Not only several economists, management scholars and sociologists, but also political scientists, historians, anthropologists and psychologists have devoted themselves to this phenomenon, or some of its aspects, contributing to explain their drivers, potentials, limits and evolving dynamics from different academic perspectives.”
This study is very helpful because, above all, its aim is plain: to compare the various concepts employed to frame the different aspects of said phenomenon. Indeed, the concept of a social enterprise is often juxtaposed, superimposed, confused with notions pertaining to social and/or fair economy and the third sector. Thus, some clarity is required, and it is precisely what Galera and Chiomento attempt to achieve. Besides all this, then, the article ponders on the meaning of social innovation, yet another big concept that often crops up when discussing this theme.
The contribution by these two EURICSE researchers appropriately begins by analysing the theoretical concept of a social enterprise, then continues to examine the main research studies related to it, as well as its applications. After a section focused on the legal aspects, which in Italy, in recent years, have had an impact on these enterprises’ sphere of action, the paper moves on to discuss social economy, fair economy, and the combination of the two, before exploring in depth policies related to the so-called third sector and, finally, social innovation. Galera and Chiomento, however, do not stop here and try to apply theory to concrete real-life situations (including an interesting and useful comparison table).
Giulia Galera and Stefania Chiomento’s contribution attempts to define and organise concepts and practices that revolve around social enterprises – a very good read for the better understanding of what is happening within a significant area of contemporary economics.
L’impresa sociale: dai concetti teorici all’applicazione a livello di policy (“Social enterprises: from theoretical concepts to policy applications”)
Giulia Galera, Stefania Chiomento
Impresa Sociale, no. 1/2022
A recently published research study connects the many dots of a significant area in contemporary economics
Social enterprises, lying between the public sector and profit-oriented companies, are hybrid entities that need to be understood rather than simply be considered benevolent businesses. Social enterprises make for a complex topic that needs to be approached with great care – also considering the headway these entities are gaining – in terms of the potential that such organisations offer and the particular production culture they embody.
Thus, “L’impresa sociale: dai concetti teorici all’applicazione a livello di policy” (“Social enterprises: from theoretical concepts to policy applications”) by Giulia Galera and Stefania Chiomento, published at the beginning of 2022, makes for very useful reading. It is a contribution that well summarises the current state of play of studies and practices undertaken in this area of economics.
“Over the past 20 years,“ write the two researchers in the first pages of this paper, “we have witnessed an extraordinary increase in interest concerning this diverse cluster of entities situated between the public sector and profit-oriented companies. Not only several economists, management scholars and sociologists, but also political scientists, historians, anthropologists and psychologists have devoted themselves to this phenomenon, or some of its aspects, contributing to explain their drivers, potentials, limits and evolving dynamics from different academic perspectives.”
This study is very helpful because, above all, its aim is plain: to compare the various concepts employed to frame the different aspects of said phenomenon. Indeed, the concept of a social enterprise is often juxtaposed, superimposed, confused with notions pertaining to social and/or fair economy and the third sector. Thus, some clarity is required, and it is precisely what Galera and Chiomento attempt to achieve. Besides all this, then, the article ponders on the meaning of social innovation, yet another big concept that often crops up when discussing this theme.
The contribution by these two EURICSE researchers appropriately begins by analysing the theoretical concept of a social enterprise, then continues to examine the main research studies related to it, as well as its applications. After a section focused on the legal aspects, which in Italy, in recent years, have had an impact on these enterprises’ sphere of action, the paper moves on to discuss social economy, fair economy, and the combination of the two, before exploring in depth policies related to the so-called third sector and, finally, social innovation. Galera and Chiomento, however, do not stop here and try to apply theory to concrete real-life situations (including an interesting and useful comparison table).
Giulia Galera and Stefania Chiomento’s contribution attempts to define and organise concepts and practices that revolve around social enterprises – a very good read for the better understanding of what is happening within a significant area of contemporary economics.
L’impresa sociale: dai concetti teorici all’applicazione a livello di policy (“Social enterprises: from theoretical concepts to policy applications”)
Giulia Galera, Stefania Chiomento
Impresa Sociale, no. 1/2022