Opening Comments Jack Quarter OISE, University of Toronto

Opening Comments

Jack QuarterOISE, University of Toronto

Definition: Social Economy

A bridging concept for organizations that have social objectives central to their mission and their practice, and either have explicit economic objectives or generate some economic value through the services they provide and purchases that they undertake.

Criteria

the organization’s statement of purpose emphasizes its social objectives (not necessarily to the exclusion of economic and other objectives) and the social objectives are manifest in its practice

Criteria

the organization generates some economic value through the services it provides and purchases that it undertakes

Criteria

the organization is not a government agency, and either has a separate incorporation or formal structure as well as a self-governing character that places it at arm's length from government, government funding—even extensive government funding—notwithstanding

Criteria

for an organization whose earnings either are predominantly or exclusively from market exchanges, the prerogatives of capital (for example, rate of return, capital valuation) do not dominate over social objectives in its decision making

Criteria

membership is voluntary and non-discriminatory according to the human rights code

Criteria

• organizations in the social economy provide a venue for civic engagement; for example, engaging people in democratic practices

Interactive Concept

• Mistake to view the social economy as an entity unto itself

• Organizations interact with the private and public sector in many ways

• Boundaries are debatable

A Schema

Market-Based Coops and Nonprofits

(A)

PublicSector

Nonprofits(B)

Social Economy(A), (B), (C)

Public Sector

Private Sector

Civil SocietyOrganizations

(C)

Finally:

That’s it!!!