Making the Planet More Habitable: Business Perspectives for Social Economy
Social Economy and Sustainable Development
Cem Cüneyt ArslantaşSocial economy is a term used to describe a particular segment of the economy, namely a set of organizations that pursue sustainable development goals and are characterized by a participatory governance system. Today the social economy has come to be accepted as the third biggest sector besides the private and public sectors. Although it differs from country to country, it has contributed to solving a number of economic crises and has found application in many countries. The third sector includes a number of organizations, such as cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations, and social enterprises. This chapter will give a short history of the social economy, examine the concept of social economy and social economy organizations, and finally, discuss how the social economy can contribute to sustainable development.