Social Economy in the Basque Country

In the social economy area and, more concretely, in the cooperative field, the Basque Country has, no doubt unintentionally, become a worldwide benchmark. The dynamism that energizes Basque social initiatives has resulted in outstanding examples of good practices where firms’ priorities are guided by social aims that respond to social needs, steering clear of the commercial profit mechanisms that are the main global driver of private economic initiative. This work, in nine chapters, addresses a wide range of contemporary aspects of the contemporary Basque social economy: the social economy concept; third social sector; legal framework; reality and development in the Autonomous Community of Euskadi; promotion of the Social Economy in Navarre; typology of public policies for the advancement of the Social Economy in Europe; associated work cooperatives in the Northern Basque Country; viability of globalization of cooperatives without risking loss of their hallmark principles and values; and tenant cooperatives. With this book we hope to make a modest contribution to encourage knowledge and reflection on the rich and complex dynamic that informs the Basque social economy today.