baseline data; methodology; Social enterprises; solidarity economy statistics
Abstract :
[en] The launch of Ireland’s National Social Enterprise Policy in 2019 represented a milestone for social enterprises in Ireland. However, the policy and previous reports stress the limited data about social enterprises at national level; against this background, the Irish Government commissioned in 2022 a research project to fill this gap. The aim of this paper is to discuss the process for establishing a methodology towards a baseline data collection exercise of social enterprises in Ireland, where official statistics do not account for this type of organisations. The methodology draws from conceptual frameworks and international experiences for building statistics of social and solidarity economy organisations, including social enterprises census and baseline exercises. Moreover, the methodology is informed by a consultation process with Irish stakeholders consisting of four focus groups (87 participants), 15 semi-structured interviews and three meetings with experts’ committees. The methodology shows how baseline information on social enterprises in Ireland was built through intermediaries lists and an ad-hoc survey. The dependence on intermediaries and the lack of publicly available financial data on social enterprises in Ireland poses challenges, especially in terms of validity. However, using an official definition, data triangulation from different intermediaries, trust and engagement developed through the consultation process partially address the challenges. The methodology developed is context-sensitive, focusing on Ireland; however, it allows for some degree of international comparability and offers guidelines for building baseline information of social enterprises, especially in countries where these organisations are not captured by official statistics.
Disciplines :
Social economics
Author, co-author :
Olmedo Osuna, Lucas ; Universidad de Almería, University College Cork, Ireland
Ruiz Rivera, Maria José ; Université de Liège - ULiège > HEC Liège Research > HEC Liège Research: Strategy & Performance for the Society ; Université de Liège - ULiège > HEC Liège : UER > UER Management : Sustainable Strategy ; UCL - Université Catholique de Louvain
Corcoran, Lorraine; Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, Ireland
Whelan, Brendan; Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, Ireland
Language :
English
Title :
A bottom-up methodology for a national baseline data collection of the social enterprise sector: the experience of Ireland
Publication date :
2024
Journal title :
CIRIEC-España: Revista de Economia Publica, Social y Cooperativa
ARTIS, A., BOUCHARD, M. & ROUSSELIERE, D. (2015): “Does the Social Economy Count? How Should we Measure it? Representations of The Social Economy Through Statistical Indicators”. In: M.J. Bouchard & D. Rousselière (Eds.), The weight of the social economy: an international perspective, CIRIEC-International & Peter Lang, 39–67.
BACQ, S. & JANSSEN, F. (2011): “The multiple faces of social entrepreneurship: A review of definitional issues based on geographical and thematic criteria”, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 23(5–6), 373–403. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2011.577242
BAREA, J. & MONZÓN CAMPOS, J.L. (1995): Las cuentas Satélite de la Economía Social en España; una primera aproximación, CIRIEC-España.
BAREA, J. & MONZÓN CAMPOS, J.L. (2006): Manual for Drawing Up the Satellite Accounts of Companies in the Social Economy: Co-operative and Mutual Societies. European Commission, Enterprise and Industry Directorate General. https://base.socioeco.org/docs/manual_satellite_accounts_def_3837.pdf
BOOTH, W.C., COLOMB, G.G. & WILLIAMS, J.M. (2005): The craft of research, 2nd ed: Univ. of Chicago Press.
BORZAGA, C., CARINI, C., GALERA, G., NOGALES, R. & CHIOMENTO, S. (2020): Social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe: comparative synthesis report, Publications Office of the European Union. DOI: https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2767/567551
BORZAGA, C. & GALERA, G. (2012): “The Concept and Practice of Social Enterprise. Lessons from the Italian Experience”, International Review of Social Research, 2(2), 85–102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/irsr-2012-0019
BOUCHARD, M.J., CRUZ FILHO, P. & ST-DENIS, M. (2011): Cadre conceptuel pour définir la population statistique de l’économie sociale au Québec. https://www.socioeco.org/bdf_fiche-document-3518_fr.html
BOUCHARD, M.J. & ROUSSELIERE, D. (2015): The weight of the social economy: An international perspective, Peter Lang. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3726/978-3-0352-6545-3
BOUCHARD, M.J. & SALATHE-BEAULIEU, G. (2021): Producing Statistics on Social and Solidarity Economy: The State of the Art, UNRISD. https://knowledgehub.unsse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WP-2021-SSE-Stats-Bouchard-Salathe-Beaulieu.pdf
BRITISH COUNCIL & SOCIAL ENTERPRISE UK. (2022): The state of social enterprise in Hong Kong. British Council. https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/british_council_hong_kong_social_enterprise_web_final.pdf
CASTELLAS, E.I., STUBBS, W. & AMBROSINI, V. (2019): “Responding to Value Pluralism in Hybrid Organizations”, Journal of Business Ethics, 159, 635–650. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3809-2
CEIS, THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT & SOCIAL VALUE LAB. (2019): Social Enterprise in Scotland Census 2019 (Technical No. 3). The Scottish Government. https://socialenterprisecensus.org.uk/wp-content/themes/census19/pdf/2019-technical%20report.pdf
CEIS, THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT & SOCIAL VALUE LAB. (2023): Social Enterprise in Scotland Census (Technical No. 4). The Scottish Government. https://socialenterprisecensus.org.uk/wp-content/themes/census19/pdf/2021-report.pdf
CHATZICHRISTOS, G., OLMEDO, L., VAN TWUIJVER, M. & O’SHAUGHNESSY, M. (2023): “Support Networks for Social Innovation: Insights from Ireland”, Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 1–21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2023.2192229
CHAVES ÁVILA, R. (2021): Producing Statistics on Social and Solidarity Economy. Policy Recommendations and Directions for Future Research [Knowledge Hub Working Paper], UNTFSSE. https://knowledgehub.unsse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WP-2021-SSE-StatsChaves-Avila.pdf
CHAVES ÁVILA, R., MONZÓN CAMPOS, J.L., GALÁN PELÁEZ, J. & GONZÁLEZ ROJAS, A. (Eds.). (2024): La economía social en España en cifras 2019, CIRIEC-España. https://ciriecstat.com/wp-content/uploads/ES-cifras-2019-1.pdf
CHAVES ÁVILA, R., MONZÓN CAMPOS, J.L., PÉREZ DE URALDE, J.M. & RADRIGÁN, M. (2013): “La economía social en clave internacional. Cuantificación, reconocimiento institucional y visibilidad social en Europa, Iberoamérica y Norte de África”, REVESCO, Revista de Estudios Cooperativos, 122–150. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5209/rev_REVE.2013.v112.43069
COMPÈRE, C., SAK, B. & SCHOENMAECKERS, J. (2021): Mapping International SSE Mapping Exercises [Knowledge Hub Working Paper], UNRISD. https://knowledgehub.unsse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WP-2021-SSE-StatsCompere-et-at.pdf
DEFOURNY, J. & NYSSENS, M. (2017): “Fundamentals for an international typology of social enterprise models”, Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 28(6), 2469–2497. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-017-9884-7
DEFOURNY, J. & NYSSENS, M. (Eds.) (2021): Social enterprise in Western Europe: theory, models and practice, Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429055140
DRCD & SFF. (2018): Social Enterprise in Ireland. Research Report to Support the Development of a National Social Enterprise Policy, Department of Rural and Community Development.
ELSON, P.R., HALL, P. & WAMUCII, P. (2016): Canadian National Social Enterprise Sector Survey Report 2016, Mount Royal University, Simon Fraser University.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2021): Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy, Publications Office of the European Union. DOI: https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2767/12083
FORDE, A. (2022): “Consolidating Ireland’s Indigenous Social Enterprise Sector – A Policy Perspective”, The Irish Journal of Management, 41(2), 93–102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijm-2023-0003
FORFÁS (2013): Social Enterprise in Ireland-Sectoral Opportunities and Policy Issues, Forfás. https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/publication-files/forf%C3%A1s/forf%C3%A1s-annual-report-2013.pdf
GALERA, G. & BORZAGA, C. (2009): “Social enterprise: An international overview of its conceptual evolution and legal implementation”, Social Enterprise Journal, 5(3), 210–228. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/17508610911004313
GALES, B. & KHALIL, J. (2022): Business for good: The size and economic contribution of social enterprise in Australia, Social Enterprise Australia. https://www.lmcf.org.au/getmedia/89ace37f-2b60-4d30-9f22-d5051011cf48/2022Business-for-Good.pdf.aspx
GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND (2019): National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019–2022. Department of Rural and Community Development. https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/e779c3-social-enterprise-policy/
HOFMAYER, S. (2022): “A legal status for Irish social enterprise-an overlooked opportunity?”, The Irish Journal of Management, 41(2), 155–167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijm-2023-0005
HYNES, B. (2016): Creating an Enabling, Supportive Environment for the Social Enterprise Sector in Ireland [Report/submission to the Irish Local Development Network]. Department of Rural and Community Development.
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE (2017): Conceptual Framework for the Purpose of Measurement of Cooperatives and Its Operationalization. International Labour Organization. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/-ed_emp/-emp_ent/-coop/documents/publication/wcms_578683.pdf
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (2022): Resolution concerning decent work and the social and solidarity economy.
JOHNS HOPKINS CENTER FOR CIVIL SOCIETY STUDIES (2019): Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project (CNP). https://ccss.jhu.edu/research-projects/comparative-nonprofit-sector-project/
KELLEHER, F., HYNES, B. & MOTTIAR, Z. (2022): “Building a better tomorrow – Bridging the disconnect between policy, practice, education and research in social enterprise”, The Irish Journal of Management, 41(2), 89–92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijm-2023-0006
LAVILLE, J.-L. (2023): “Origins and histories”. In: I. Yi (Ed.), Encyclopedia of the Social and Solidarity Economy (pp. 73–82), Edward Elgar Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803920924.00022
MARCUELLO-SERVÓS, C. & SAZ-GIL, M.I. (2008): “Los principios cooperativos facilitadores de la innovación: un modelo teórico”, REVESCO, Revista de Estudios Cooperativos, 94, 59–79.
MCLOUGHLIN, M., MCCARTHY, M., DULAT, E., CORCORAN, L., WHELAN, B., MCGRATH, D., RUIZ-RIVERA, M.J. & OLMEDO, L. (2023): Social Enterprises in Ireland. A Baseline Data Collection Exercise. Department of Rural and Community Development. https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/295662/623e9cd7-3a00-4fe9-8ead-8b5be6997ff4.pdf
MONZÓN CAMPOS, J.L. (2010): Las grandes cifras de la Economía Social en España. Ámbito, entidades y cifras clave. Año 2008, CIRIEC-España. https://ciriecstat.com/wp-content/uploads/publicaciones/LAS_GRANDES_CIFRAS_ECONOMIA_SOCIAL_ESPANA_AMBITO_ENTIDADES_CIFRAS_CLAVE_ANO_2008.pdf
MONZÓN CAMPOS, J.L. & CHAVES ÁVILA, R. (2012): The social economy in the European Union: report drawn up for the European Economic and Social Committee by the International Centre of Research and Information on the Public, Social and Cooperative Economy (CIRIEC), European Economic and Social Committee. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2864/19534
MONZÓN CAMPOS, J.L. & CHAVES ÁVILA, R. (2019): Recent evolutions of the Social Economy in the European Union: executive summary, CIRIEC Working Papers No. 2019/02, CIRIEC. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25518/ciriec.wp201902
MONZÓN CAMPOS, J.L., GALÁN PELÁEZ, J. & GONZÁLEZ ROJAS, A. (2020): Libro blanco de la economía social en España. Delimitación de objetivos y cuentas satélite de cooperativas, sociedades laborales y entidades de base asociativa. Año 2017, CIRIEC-España. https://ciriecstat.com/wp-content/uploads/publicaciones/LIBRO_BLANCO_ECONOMIA_SOCIAL_ESPANA_Delimitaciones_Ano_2017.pdf
MONZÓN CAMPOS, J.L., GALÁN PELÁEZ, J. & GONZÁLEZ ROJAS, A. (2023): Las cuentas satélite de las cooperativas y las sociedades laborales en España. Año 2019, CIRIEC-España editorial. https://ciriecstat.com/wp-content/uploads/Cuentas-satelite-de-cooperativas-y-soclaborales-en-Espana-ano-2019.pdf
Ó BROIN, D. & DOYLE, G. (2022): “Rethinking social enterprise policy making in Ireland – untangling proportionate, disproportionate and unengaged sectoral policy contributions”, The Irish Journal of Management, 41(2), 103–118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijm-2023-0004
OECD (2023): Policy Guide on Legal Frameworks for the Social and Solidarity Economy, OECD. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/9c228f62-en
OLMEDO, L., VAN TWUIJVER, M., O’SHAUGHNESSY, M. & SLOANE, A. (2021): “Irish rural social enterprises and the national policy framework”, Administration, 69(4), 9–37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/admin-2021-0026
O’SHAUGHNESSY, M. & OLMEDO, L. (2023): “Placing Irish Social Enterprise Ecosystem within the wider European Landscape”, The Irish Journal of Management, 42(1), 3–15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijm-2023-0007
PERILLEUX, A., HUDON, M. & BLOY, E. (2012): “Surplus Distribution in Microfinance: Differences Among Cooperative, Nonprofit, and Shareholder Forms of Ownership”, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 41(3), 386–404. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0899764011406287
PERRI 6 & BELLAMY, C. (2012): Principles of methodology: research design in social Science, SAGE. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446288047
UNITED NATIONS (2018): Satellite account on non-profit and related institutions and volunteer work. United Nations. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/npf-2019-0011
UNITED NATIONS (2023): Promoting the social and solidarity economy for sustainable development (A/77/L.60), United Nations, Inter-Agency Task on Social and Solidarity Economy Force. https://unsse.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/A_RES_77_281-EN.pdf
VAN TWUIJVER, M.W., OLMEDO, L., O’SHAUGHNESSY, M. & HENNESSY, T. (2020): “Rural social enterprises in Europe: A systematic literature review”, Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit, 35(2), 121–142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269094220907024
WOO, C. & JUNG, H. (2023): “Exploring the Regional Determinants of the Emergence of Social Enterprises in South Korea: An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Perspective”, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 52(3), 723–744. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/08997640221110211
