The Role of Social Capital in the Social Economy

The concept of social capital has in recent years become increasingly common in debates across Europe about local economic/social development, social exclusion/the emerging Third system/social economy. A definition familiar to the European Union through its Article 6 Local Social Capital programme describes it as — “features of social organisation such as networks, norms/social trust that facilitate co-ordination/co-operation for mutual benefits”. Thus, the role of social capital in — “restoring social cohesion, reinforcing local networks/formal/informal groups which seek to facilitate integration of excluded persons into work/start-up businesses/co-operatives” — is increasingly recognised, especially in the development of intermediate organisations under Article 6 Local Social Capital. What is more, the “main drivers of the creation of social capital are people/non-profit organisations that develop initiatives that contribute to the creation of employment/strengthening of social cohesion”. But how can we indicate that social capital has contributed or has been created in such ways? This is one key task of the

Conscise

Project — “The Contribution of Social Capital in the Social Economy to Local Economic Development in Western Europe”.