Social Economy

978-92-823-This study assesses the important role the social economy plays in the EU.

Priority policies identified to reach its full potential include:
1) digital transformation of social economy
2) enabling EU cross-sectorial regulatory and financial frameworks
3) improving definitions and developing indicators - alternatives to GDP - to focus policies on EU added-value.

This document has been commissioned by Policy Department A on behalf of European Parliament´s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

A significant proportion of Europe's economy is intended to make profits for people other than investors or owners. Known as the ‘social economy’, it includes cooperatives, mutual societies, non-profit associations, foundations and social enterprises. They operate a very broad number of commercial activities, provide a wide range of products and services across the European single market and generate millions of jobs. Social enterprises are also the engine for social innovation.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union: Publications available via the EU Bookshop http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/directorate-general-for-internal-policies-of-the-union-cbf.cKABstF7wAAAEjwYYY4e5K/

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: Study, May 2016: Social economy http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/578969/IPOL_STU(2016)578969_EN.pdf

European Commission: Growth: Sectors: Social economy http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/social-economy/index_en.htm

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