Policy implications• The Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) and the Porto Social Summit have created a momentum for the enhancement of the social dimension of the European Union(EU), but, so far, without much to show by way of innovation.• The EU should further expand...

Increasingly, investors also pursue social goals and are not only seeking financial returns. For that reason, a social investment market is emerging in the EU, comprising, in part of, of investment funds targeting social undertakings. Such investment funds provide funding to social undertakings...

The forces of the market and systems competition bring about economic and social convergence in Europe. There is no need for social policies at the EU level. Social harmonisation would distort migration flows and slow down the speed of economic convergence. National welfare states will be...

Although the European business environment induces important premises and assures conditions in determining economic growth and social well-being, the determinant and existent connections between the evolution of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), business demography characteristics and...