The Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) is an economy in which social purpose is fundamental.
The company will use its profits to support a cause. Its primary objective is not to make a profit.
She leads a collective project that is most often aimed at social and/or environmental goals.
These are partnerships, not corporations; they operate collectively and democratically and prioritize the local community.
Today, these businesses are distinguished primarily by their legal structure (associations, cooperatives, mutuals, foundations, etc.), but also by the values of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) that they uphold.
They put into practice one or more of the unifying values (1) of the social and solidarity economy (SSE):
- Men and women are at the heart of the economy and are its ultimate purpose: the individual and society take precedence over capital,
- Participation in projects and organizations is open and voluntary,
- Management is democratic: election of leaders, one person, one vote (rather than one share, one vote), establishment of collective decision-making bodies,
- Profit distribution is highly regulated: the creation of non-distributable equity reserves, and the majority of surpluses cannot be redistributed,
- Management is autonomous and independent of government authorities, but there is a strong tradition of cooperation with them,
- The principles of solidarity and responsibility guide the implementation of these initiatives.
The social and solidarity economy also carries out public service functions that the government is unable to perform or that it performs in a manner that is less efficient and less beneficial to users.
The social and solidarity economy (SSE) is highly diverse, and its definition is fluid, as it includes both leading market-based enterprises and organizations of varying sizes.
Source: https://enssemble.org
