Social Economy

Business, Legal & Accounting Glossary

Definition: Social Economy


Social Economy


Full Definition of Social Economy


Social economy is a not-for-profit sector economy between government or public sector economy and business or private sector economy. The social economy includes organizations like charities, cooperatives, and non-governmental organizations.

Economy Sector Subdivisions

Social economy can be broken into three sections: the social enterprise sector, the voluntary sector, and the community sector.

Social Enterprise Sector

Social enterprise sector encompasses organizations that invest in fulfilling social objectives and do not engage in the activity of profit maximization for company owners and shareholders.

Voluntary Sector

The voluntary sector includes self-governing organizations that are independent of any kind of government control. These organizations typically consist of volunteers and operate on a not-for-profit basis. Examples of voluntary sector involvement in the social economy include large community associations, housing associations, and large charities.

Community Sector

Community sector organizations are dependent on voluntary effort. People working in community sector organizations are generally not paid. Examples of community sector organizations include civic societies, neighbourhood watch, and small support groups.

All three sub-sectors of the social economy comprise of economic activities like pensions, financial transactions, trading, property occupation, and employment. A social economy develops because of a dire need to discover fresh answers to needs that were inadequately addressed by other private and public sectors.

Pivotal Role Of Social Economy Organizations

Social economy organizations play a pivotal role in a country’s economy. These organizations assist the country’s government to accomplish policy objectives like socially inclusive wealth creation. Public services are made more efficient. Productivity and competitiveness can be increased. Social economy organizations help communities and individuals to improve their local neighbourhoods. An inclusive society is being created as a result.

Many countries officially recognize the need for a social economy. The governments of Latin American countries like Venezuela believe that policy of nationalizing large companies would help the poor. Wage labour is viewed as a generator of exploitation. The French government recognizes four families of social economy organizations: mutuals, foundations, associations, and cooperatives.


Cite Term


To help you cite our definitions in your bibliography, here is the proper citation layout for the three major formatting styles, with all of the relevant information filled in.

Page URL
https://payrollheaven.com/define/social-economy/
Modern Language Association (MLA):
Social Economy. PayrollHeaven.com. Payroll & Accounting Heaven Ltd.
April 20, 2024 https://payrollheaven.com/define/social-economy/.
Chicago Manual of Style (CMS):
Social Economy. PayrollHeaven.com. Payroll & Accounting Heaven Ltd.
https://payrollheaven.com/define/social-economy/ (accessed: April 20, 2024).
American Psychological Association (APA):
Social Economy. PayrollHeaven.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024
, from PayrollHeaven.com website: https://payrollheaven.com/define/social-economy/

Definition Sources


Definitions for Social Economy are sourced/syndicated and enhanced from:

  • A Dictionary of Economics (Oxford Quick Reference)
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Accounting
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Business & Management

This glossary post was last updated: 30th March, 2020 | 0 Views.