Public policies to advance the social economy

Abstract

Abstract For decades, the social economy, prioritizing social impact over profit maximization, has contributed to mitigating the rise in poverty and inequality, as well as climate change, while enhancing social cohesion and societal wellbeing. In the face of multiple global challenges, governments and international institutions around the world are recognizing the potential of the social economy and are designing polices in support of it, yet often without the necessary data. Public policies to advance the social economy provides examples of policy actions that are taken around the globe, such as designing enabling legal frameworks, supporting access to finance and supporting the production of data. Moreover, this chapter sets out directions for future research to allow for more evidence-based policy-making in the social economy.