A Review of the Theory and Practice of Social Economy / Économie Sociale in Canada

Introduction

Interest in the social economy is rarely neutral. Philosophers, scholars, and policy-makers often seek new ways of redistributing resources whenever social tensions are exacerbated to the point where the fabric of society becomes dishevelled and risks being torn apart. This paper is written in such a context. Indeed, recent economic growth in Canada, as in most industrialized countries, has resulted not in lessening the  disparity between rich and poor individuals and communities but has instead simultaneously created both wealth and poverty (Robinson, 2001; Yalnizyan, 1998).1 Even the reduction of unemployment levels in recent years and the decrease in welfare rolls due to policy changes have not bridged the gap between “haves” and “have-nots” (Desmarais, 2000; Gorlick & Brethour, 1999; National Council of Welfare, 1997; Shragge, 1997). Direct state intervention is not regarded as the best way to redress the situation, since it is widely associated with a costly and inefficient bureaucracy administering cumbersome programs and imposing paternalistic policies. This perception may not be fair, but the fact remains that programs enacted to decrease poverty do not always meet fully the needs of the targeted individuals and even often inadvertently contain barriers that lessen the chances for some of these people to become employed or to accumulate assets (Deniger et al., 1995; Sherman, Amey, Duffield, Ebb, & Weinstein, 1998). As a consequence, new policies and programs that can address these problems are actively being sought.

Can the development of the social economy speak to some of these issues? This paper will attempt to answer this question by providing information on the history, theory, and practice of the social economy and seek to explain some of the associated conceptual ambiguities. For example, the concept of the social economy is fairly well established in
Europe (outside of Germany), Japan, and Quebec, while elsewhere in North America and in other industrialized countries concepts such as the third sector  and the voluntary sector are better known. Do these expressions mean the same thing? As will be noted, confusion remains. This will be followed by a presentation of social economy practice in Canada and around the world with a particular emphasis on the Quebec experience as well as on certain selected practice issues.

Complete document

pdf A Review of the Theory and Practice of Social Economy/Économie Sociale in Canada William A. Ninacs 2002

William A. Ninacs, A Review of the Theory and Practice of Social Economy/Économie Sociale in Canada, With assistance from Michael Toye, Ottawa, Social Research and Demonstration Corporation/Société de recherche sociale appliquée,  38 pages, 2002