Abstract
The aim of the article is to analyze public policies of social entrepreneurship in Slovenia and their developmental phases, the characteristics of social economy organizations, and to assess the framework conditions for social entrepreneurship by social enterprises. Since social entrepreneurship follows mainly social objectives, it needs the support of the ecosystem to develop properly. The EU allows the Member States to regulate social entrepreneurship itself, so Slovenia has formalized the social entrepreneurship domain through national-level legislation. In the article, a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is applied, using primary data on social enterprises and a case study approach. The results of the analysis of social economy organizations in Slovenia indicate that the formal status of social enterprises covers a wide range of organizations and their share is low in the national context. The analysis of the case study organizations indicates that the legislation is considered as the main factor hindering the development of social entrepreneurship. Moreover, their assessment of public policies is rather judgmental and disapproving. In general, the results reveal that although the area of social entrepreneurship in Slovenia is developing, a vision and long-term strategy is still lacking and the implementation of supportive environment incentives is insufficient.
Highlights
Social entrepreneurship has become a globally accepted and developed phenomenon. e concept of social entrepreneurship has a racted a ention as a significant field that shows how critical societal issues can be addressed through the innovations, persistence and sustainable outcomes associated with entrepreneurship (Nadim and Singh, 2011; Hosu, 2012; Martin and Osberg, 2007; Zajko and Bradač Hojnik, 2018). e phenomenon of social entrepreneurship is specific because it is based on the fulfilment of social objectives rather than profitable objectives
We focus on the case of an European Union (EU) Member State, namely Slovenia, and its development of the field of social entrepreneurship. e goal of the article is to examine the development of the field of social entrepreneurship at the national level, to analyze business organizations in the social economy and to examine how social enterprises evaluate public policy and the environment for social entrepreneurship in Slovenia
In the preparation of developmental stages, we focus on the period a er Slovenia’s independence. e first phase (1991-2004) is characterized by the absence of legislation in the field of social entrepreneurship. e concept was mainly present as a community of companies for disabled people, associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Summary
Social entrepreneurship has become a globally accepted and developed phenomenon. e concept of social entrepreneurship has a racted a ention as a significant field that shows how critical societal issues can be addressed through the innovations, persistence and sustainable outcomes associated with entrepreneurship (Nadim and Singh, 2011; Hosu, 2012; Martin and Osberg, 2007; Zajko and Bradač Hojnik, 2018). e phenomenon of social entrepreneurship is specific because it is based on the fulfilment of social objectives rather than profitable objectives. E goal of the article is to examine the development of the field of social entrepreneurship at the national level, to analyze business organizations in the social economy and to examine how social enterprises evaluate public policy and the environment for social entrepreneurship in Slovenia. E creation and development of companies require favorable external conditions, a supportive environmental, institutional and cultural framework (Oncer and Yildiz, 2010) When these elements work together and integrate public and private stakeholders, an environment suitable for entrepreneurial dynamism is created. Several European countries have initiated a wide range of business development services and support programs designed for social enterprises and social economy organizations. Public policies on social entrepreneurship and the social economy vary across the EU Member States. e European Commission points out as reasons for the overall low level of social entrepreneurship in the EU: the lack of internal links with stakeholders and creation of alliances, the lack of examples of good practice and, last but not least, the EU education system which does not give enough importance to social entrepreneurship (European Commission, 2011)
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