Social responsibility in social economy companies: a comparative analysis of the productive fabric of the Valencian Community

Abstract

This work analyzes the Internal Social Responsibility (CSR) practices of Social Economy companies in the Valencian Community, and their comparison with the set of companies in the Community. Through this analysis, we intend to provide empirical evidence to support the superior commitment of Social Economy companies to their work environment, their environment, their stakeholders and Good Governance. The academic literature on this subject, centered mainly on the field of cooperatives, has been observing how the very nature and principles of action of Social Economy companies constitute the basic substrate of a socially responsible company. And is that the foundations of CSR are in the very heart of Social Economy companies, incorporating a participatory culture and guidelines for action that are reconciling the economic and social dimension. In these companies, links and social values are generated that are superior to any other type of company, and therefore have greater potential for the adoption of CSR practices. This paper concludes by showing how the Valencian Social Economy companies are uppermost responsible in all the items that integrate the internal RSE, with superior positive differentials in 8 percentage points, except in the area of Good Government, where they are surpassed by the total of companies of community. These results are part of a study funded by the Directorate General of Social Economy and entrepreneurship of the Generalitat Valenciana, which aimed to analyze the practices of Corporate Social Responsibility of the productive fabric of the Community.