Social economy organizations such as cooperatives, non-profits, mutual benefit groups, foundations, and non-governmental organizations are uniquely positioned to respond not only to emerging social and economic needs, but also to new collective aspirations. In Québec, for instance, a pioneering...

The starting point of the qualification of the social economy (SE) is that all definitions of the SE underline the primacy of the social purpose over the economic activity. This is especially shown in the empirical features which are typical of the structures and operation of the social economy...