In Argentina
Although it is difficult to develop a definition of the social economy that is not a list of the organizations that make it up, the definition developed in the World Social Forum (Nairobi, 2007) indicates that it is an Economy based on values of equality, cooperation, commitment to the territorial environment and solidarity "Solidarity (sociology)") that allow us to glimpse economic, social and cultural alternatives based on its initiatives of fair trade, ethical finance, ecological sustainability, among others.
It is true that social economy experiences have been more visible and have grown notably in response to crises, but they also give an account of other forms of organization of work and production, of “another economy” that criticizes the dominant capitalist economy and that offers a response to the crossroads it poses for the most vulnerable social sectors.
In Argentina, there are experiences of cooperative and mutual associations, foundations, organizations of the unemployed and recovered factories that were born after the harshest economic crises. Particularly, the case of "recovered companies" has been legally framed since the modification of the Bankruptcy Law, which provides for the possibility of workers retaining their sources of employment in the event of the abandonment of the company by its owners. A clear example is through the formation of work cooperatives, taking advantage of the installed infrastructure, the client portfolio and that of suppliers.[9].
In Spain
In Spain the concept of social economy is currently widely recognized. However, it presents differences in content depending on whether the specialists in the scientific field, the public powers in their policies, norms and speeches, or the professionals in the sector, especially their representative structures, express themselves. In 2011, Law 5/2011, of March 29, on Social Economy,[10] was approved, which is configured as a legal framework in which all these entities are included, and whose objective is to configure a series of protection and promotion measures for those that the law itself relates to the sustainable economy.
Said Law defines the social economy as the "set of economic and business activities carried out in the private sphere by those entities that, in accordance with the principles set out in article 4, pursue either the collective interest of their members, the general economic or social interest, or both" (art. 2).
The social economy in Spain is represented by the Spanish Business Confederation of the Social Economy (CEPES). Although there are other entities representing cooperatives according to their legal specificity, such as FAECTA, which represents Work Cooperatives in the region of Andalusia.
The main entity that brings together the social economy in Spain is REAS (Alternative and Solidarity Economy Networks), which brings together more than eight hundred entities that in turn are organized into territorial and sectoral networks. Legally, REAS is a non-profit Association, without any partisan or religious affiliation, with scope of action throughout the territory of the Spanish State.[11] In Madrid, the largest representative of the social economy is the Mercado Social") of Madrid, which brings together 76 entities.[12] Some of the main social economy cooperatives from different economic fields also have their headquarters: Fiare Banca Ética in banking,[13] Ecooo Energía Ciudadana in energy. renewables,[14] La Marea[15] and El Salto "El Salto (newspaper)")[16] in the media or El Teatro del Barrio[17] in culture and performing arts.
Between 2016 and 2019, as an initiative of the Manuela Carmena municipal government team, the social economy of Madrid was promoted with the MARES project, after winning a competition from the European Union for its financing.[18] Among other activities, 48 productive entities were created with economic activity within the framework of the social economy in the areas included in the name: Mobility, Food, Rcycling, Energy and be carefulS.[19] The municipal government that emerged from the 2019 elections formed by PP, Ciudadanos "Ciudadanos (Spain)") and Vox "Vox (political party)") eliminated the project a few weeks after taking office.[20].
The scientific society CIRIEC-Spain"), Spanish subsidiary of CIRIEC, International Center for Research and Information on Public, Social and Cooperative Economy, has promoted the dissemination of the concept of social economy in Spain since 1986 through scientific economic and legal journals, events and technical conferences, a documentation and information center, information bulletins from the Spanish Observatory of the Social Economy and the Ibero-American Observatory of the Social Economy (OIBESCOOP")), the Social Economy News and developed and publishing research projects. The group of experts that prepared the technical report for the approval of the Spanish Social Economy Law was made up of researchers from CIRIEC. CIRIEC is a consultative body of the United Nations for the Social and Solidarity Economy, of the European Economic and Social Committee, of the Group of Experts on the Social Economy and Social Enterprises (GECES) of the European Commission. The experts from the National Council for the Promotion of the Social Economy of Spain are members of CIRIEC.
In Venezuela
The term social economy is little known in Venezuela. However, it has been introduced in the National Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, of March 2000: article 184 establishes that “participation in economic processes will be promoted by stimulating the expressions of the social economy such as cooperatives, savings banks, mutual societies and other associative forms.” This same article recognizes the popular economy by stating that “The State will promote and protect these associations aimed at improving the popular and alternative economy.”[26].
Until now, the only university institution that offers a degree in social economics in Venezuela is the National Polytechnic Experimental University of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (UNEFANB).