Published by Oxford University Press, Social Economy Science: Transforming the Economy and Making Society More Resilient highlights the importance of social economy science as a means of addressing the biggest societal challenges. We are delighted to share that our Research Director Eleanor Carter and former Executive Director Nigel Ball have contributed with a chapter on social outcomes contracting.
Lack of progress in the area of global sustainable development and difficulties in crisis management highlight the need to transform the economy and find new ways of making society more resilient. The social economy is increasingly recognized as a driver of such transformations; it comprises traditional forms of cooperative or solidarity-based organizations alongside new phenomena such as impact investing or social tech ventures that aim to contribute to the public good.
Social Economy Science provides the first comprehensive analysis of why and how social economy organisations create superior value for society. The book draws on organisational theory and transition studies to provide a systematic perspective on complex multi-stakeholder forms of action. It discusses the social economy's role in promoting innovation for impact, as well as its role as an agent of societal change and as a partner to businesses, governments, and citizens.
Published by Oxford University Press and edited by Gorgi Krlev, Dominika Wruk, Giulio Pasi, and Marika Bernhard, this book is an open access title. It is free to read at Oxford Academic and offered as a free PDF download from Oxford University Press and selected open access locations.
The book made its debut at the Social Outcomes Conference held at the Blavatnik School of Government on 14-15 September 2023.
Mario Calderini, Director of the TIRESIA research centre at Politecnico di Milano, chaired the event. He was joined by Bayo Adelaja, social entrepreneur and founder of Do it Now Now, publication editor Gorgi Krlev, Associate Professor of Sustainability at ESCP Business School, and our Research Director Eleanor Carter. You can watch the book launch below.