The expansion of social economy in MED EEA: a critical mapping approach

Abstract

During the past decades, alternatives of capturing value and consumption modes have emerged, which have gradually led to the consolidation of new forms of work to alternative and sustainable development based on de-growth concept and the re-birth of social economy promoted by public policies. The purpose of the study is the examination of the spatio-temporal trends of the expansion of Social Economy in MED EEA, and the dispute of the effectiveness of the social economy practices against youth unemployment, through a mapping approach of a cross-country secondary research, within the theoretical framework of Geographical Cultural Political Economy. The Social Economy notion has been re-activated as a response against youth unemployment, towards socio-economic development through social solidarity, democracy and stable and sustainable economic growth in a general de-growth concept. However, the implementation of such policies also foster the reproduction of growth orientated profit-driven business models. Simultaneously, the increase of employment rates remains questionable, while arises the query whether it consists an alternative or low-cost solution to social Welfare State. It is important the lack of common international recognition, identification and conceptualizations of the concept of Social Economy which require clarification, which is transferred to the data coherence. From the analysis occurs that there are intense regional disparities in social economy rates. Social Economy still appears to consist a minor part of the economy, with small rates of entities compared to the total numbers. However, it is an important share of employment in some study regions. From the above it may be concluded that it is a sensitive part of the economy, which is functioning more as an “unemployment absorber” than a radical solution.