Social enterprises: a comparative social policy instrument for promotion in Spain and Italy

Abstract

The economy in this era of global peculiarities represents the main focus of attention of people, organizations and countries, mainly due to the social effects that are related to the quality of life that generates integral well-being for human beings. All socioeconomic theorists link businesses to the generation of goods, services, and social development. This premise gave rise to the concept known as the "social economy," which is based on the use of production factors with an emphasis on social factors. That is, for economic organizations, the rationale is profitability, and for social organizations, the rationale is group coordination to resolve community problems. The objective is to assess the role of social enterprises as a social policy instrument in the development of the 2030 Agenda. The research uses a qualitative approach with an analytical method to compare measures to promote social enterprises in Spain and Italy. The main result was the verification of the prominent role of social enterprises as an instrument for the implementation of social policies in Spain and Italy. The conclusion is highlighted by the need to lead emerging economies in achieving the highest standards of economic performance, seeking to provide their populations with the well-deserved well-being economy contemplated in the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda, and by emphasizing that social enterprises represent an ideal instrument for combating poverty and social inequalities.