Francesca Petrella

Patterns of evolutions of social enterprises in France: a focus on work integration social enterprises

ABSTRACT The objective of this paper is to characterize the patterns of emergence and evolution of social enterprise in France with a focus on work integration social enterprises (WISEs). After a review of the history of social and solidarity economy practices, identifying the processes that brought these practices to develop, we discuss the boundaries of the notion of social enterprise in the French case. We then briefly present the historical evolution of work integration. On that basis, two models of social enterprise applied to the case of work integration are extracted, crystallizing crucial tendencies. The limits and prospects of social enterprise in the field of work integration in France are discussed in the conclusion.

Working under pressure: economic recession and third sector development in Europe

The context conditions for third sector organizations (TSOs) in Europe have significantly changed as a result of the global economic crisis, including decreasing levels of public funding and changing modes of relations with the state. The effect of economic recession, however, varies across Europe. The purpose of this paper is to understand why this is the case. It analyses the impact of economic recession and related policy changes on third sector development in Europe. The economic effects on TSOs are thereby placed into a broader context of changing third sector policies and welfare state restructuring.

Civil Society and New Forms of Governance : the Case of Childcare Services in a European Perspective

In spite of divergent responses in the different European countries, common trends may be observed in the development of social services: the decentralisation of authority, the diversification of stakeholders in the conception and implementation of public policies, with an increasing role played by the third sector, and the diversification of public-policy instruments. As a result, the modes of governance are becoming more complex while the possibilities for participation are still limited and territorial inequalities are increasing. These trends also pose serious challenges in terms of the quality and accessibility of the services themselves. Therefore, building upon these common trends observed in Europe, we shall have a closer look at the role played by the various actors, in local governance structures in the case of childcare services. Participation of civil society is a central issue in the design of new welfare mixes in the provision of these services across Europe. The role of civil society in childcare provision is real both in terms of innovative capacity and complementary supply to public services, but its participation in local governance structures remains, in general, limited. It is thus important not to confine the third-sector organisations to a role of care providers but rather, to encourage their involvement in local government bodies in order to bolster their capacity for innovation and experimentation in face of changing social demands.

Social Enterprises and their Eco-systems : A European mapping report

This summary presents the main elements of the report on ‘Mapping social enterprises’ produced in 2016, on the basis of a previous report produced in 2014 for the European Commission. Nadine Richez-Battesti and Francesca Petrella have been in charge of the revision process of this report, together with the contribution of national stakeholders through an online and direct consultation undertaken over the months of April, May and June 2016. This report is part of a broader mapping of social enterprises and their eco-systems in Europe, based on the concept of social enterprise as presented in the Commissions Social Business Initiative in 2011. Focusing on France, this report also explains the national use of other broader concepts, such as the social and solidarity economy and its relation to the social enterprise concept of the SBI.