Social Economy discussed at European conference in Gothenburg

The social economy is an opportunity and a driver for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially for the achievement of Objective 8 “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work”, which is one of the SDGs prioritised by the School of Business, Economics and Law.

More than 250 delegates will participate in the conference representing social enterprises, cooperatives, interest organisations, networks and federations, European commissioners, policy makers, support organisations and researchers from 12 European countries.

Hello there, María José Zapata Campos, Senior Lecturer in Business Administration and one of the organisers

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What is the social economy?

The social economy is made up of a diversity of enterprises and organisations like cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations, ethical banks, social enterprises, or grassroots initiatives. They are characterized by putting people over profits, being governed democratically, and by reinvesting most profits. The social economy is a major socio-economic player of the European social market economy. There are 2.8 million social economy enterprises and organisations, ranging from SMEs to large EU groups. The social economy is present across all sectors and employs 13.6 million people and accounts for 8% of the EU’s GDP.

Why promoting the social economy in the European Union

Europe needs the social economy to reach out to its citizens, detect their real needs and make them part of creating solutions to a number of challenges, such as unemployment or precarious work, social exclusion, discrimination and racism, climate change or the lack of social cohesion. Likewise, the social economy needs the European Union to improve its visibility, as an alliance of virtuous enterprise models, and to support its recognition and development, on equal footing with other forms of enterprise, throughout the European Single Market.

Why the Social Economy Conference at the School of Business, Economics and Law?

To scale the potential of the social economy it is necessary, among other things, to make it more visible at higher education. At our School, groups of researchers are already conducting studies on the social economy, social enterprises, work integration social enterprises, cooperatives, social procurement, or social innovations. During the conference, researchers from the School will participate in the different sessions to discuss how to strengthen the social economy in Europe together with representatives from the sector and policy makers. In terms of education, social enterprises and cooperatives, as forms of organizing work and economic growth, are still underrepresented. To host this conference is a first step for mainstreaming social economy in our education in synergy with many other actors.

What are you most looking forward to during the conference?

I am very much looking forward to the intervention of Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights and his presentation of the state of play of the Social Economy Action Plan. Also, to the panel in the plenary session where majors of several European municipalities will discuss the role of cities in supporting the social economy.