Examples of Social Economy Organizations

Annie McKitrick and Ashley Hamilton-

MacQuarrie

“The Social Economy consists of association-based economic initiatives founded on values of:

•Service to members of community rather than generating profits;•Autonomous management (not government or market controlled);•Democratic decision making;•Primacy of persons and work over capital;•Based on principles of participation, empowerment.•The Social Economy includes: social assets (housing, childcare, etc), social enterprises including co-operatives, credit unions, equity and debt capital for community investment, social purpose businesses, community training and skills development, integrated social and economic planning and capacity building and community empowerment. The Social Economy is a continuum that goes from one end of totally voluntary organizations to the other end, where the economic activity (social enterprise) blurs the line with the private sector.”- Canadian Community Economic Development Network, 2005

What is the Social Economy?

CSERP Research Areas

• Food security• Poverty reduction• Enterprise d’insertion• Procurement/fair trade• Indigenous enterprises• Housing• Education

Type of organizations usually identified with the

Social Economy

Co-operatives

Non-Profit Non-incorporated

Workers co-operativesSocial enterprises

Social Enterprises

Food SecurityThree main aspects:• The production of food • The distribution of local food • The ability of all to access affordable, nutritious

food

Procurement, Fair Trade and Ethical

Purchasing• Products from organizations that maintain ethical practices towards producers, employees and benefit communities.

Examples: coffee, cocao, cotton and t-shirts, art/prints, local crafts.

Housing• Benefits of co-op housing or non-profit housing

include:• Secure affordable housing• Social networks and supports• Reduce poverty by decreasing % of income spent

on shelter.

Education• Does the K-12 curriculum

reflect the values of the Social Economy?

• For example is the role of Arctic Co-op reflected in the textbooks used in Nunavut?

Enterprise D’insertion• Provide on the job training and employment to

groups who have difficulties finding employment• Usually produce goods and services that compete

in the market• Depend on government or other subsidies to

supplement wages

Environment• Energy co-ops• Organic emphasis• Social enterprises for sustainable

products/services• Recycling