The purpose of this article is to identify the most effective governance configurations, including gender composition, for the creation and amplification of solidarity economy cooperative (SEC) members' income. It is known that the governance of these organizations affects their ability to provide work and income to millions of disfranchised people around the world. However, the relationship between the governance of SECs, their members' gender, and their income remains under‐investigated and under‐theorized. To bridge this gap, we employ the qualitative comparative analysis method to investigate different dimensions of the governance of 327 small Brazilian SECs. Our results indicate two governance configurations that are highly likely to lead to the production and increase of members' income. In general, our results show that the most successful SECs in this regard are those that adopt more traditional governance structures and have a prevalence of male members. Our findings also indicate that democratic aspect of SEC governance must be coupled with other governance structures in order to deliver the expected results. Our results will be of interest to both scholars and SEC leaders for better understanding and managing the connection between the governance of these organizations and their members' income generation.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between dynamic service innovation capabilities (DSICs) and startup growth in an emerging country. Design/methodology/approach This paper used a theoretical DSIC model to process data on 137 Brazilian startups, using a stepwise regression. Findings Service startup growth is related to the capability of enterprises to understand market signals, learn from customers and design a scalable, repetitive and profitable business model. Research limitations/implications Despite the innovative nature of startups, this paper found that technological and networking capacities are not a determinant of growth. Practical implications Managers should commit themselves to improve their competence in terms of understanding market signals, even when they already have a consolidated business model, products and service offerings. The findings also function as a warning about the dangers of an excessive focus on technological capabilities. Social implications Innovative startups, which achieve high growth create a disproportionate number of new jobs. Hence, by indicating the dynamic capabilities that are more conducive to firm growth, this paper contributes to society and the economy at large. Originality/value The findings challenge the myth of technological capacity and networking skills as the main sources of startup growth. This paper shows that founders and managers of service startups who want to achieve rapid growth should concentrate more effort on other skills. Marketing competence and building scalable business models – abilities that are common to successful traditional firms – are more relevant for short-term growth than technological innovation.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the configurations of working capital and customer and supplier diversification employed by successful small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a combinatory methodology to analyze how 124 Brazilian SMEs configured – before and during the pandemic – the size of their working capital and their levels of dependency on clients and suppliers.FindingsHigh levels of working capital and supplier diversification were found to be key to SMEs' ability to thrive before and during the pandemic. However, while SMEs that were growing prior to the pandemic depended on a few major customers, firms flourishing during this time have divided their sales among many clients.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focuses on what configurations SMEs have adopted during the crisis. Qualitative studies are needed to identify how SMEs reconfigure themselves in the face of a major crisis.Practical implicationsThe results of this study indicate that SMEs hit by the pandemic should avoid retrenchment strategies. They might have better chances of success if they embrace their vulnerability and take risks to foster growth.Social implicationsThe results of the study can help SMEs respond to the economic crisis caused by COVID-19, which has already caused the failure of millions of businesses worldwide.Originality/valueThis is the first empirical investigation of SMEs that are weathering the pandemic, and in this study, the authors have analyzed the three aspects of their operations, which have been struck the hardest by the crisis.

PurposeThe paper aims to provide robust evidence about the relationships between key individual characteristics of owners and managers (OMs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs)' growth and the moderating influence of the country context on these relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe authors meta-analyzed 62 studies presenting a cumulative sample of 175 effect-sizes and 174,590 SMEs.FindingsThe authors found that SMEs led by more experienced men with higher levels of education are more likely to grow. While the relationship between OMs' experience and SMEs' growth is significant for differing country contexts, national characteristics affect the magnitude of the influence that OMs' education and gender specifically exert on SME expansion. The authors also found that the positive impact of OMs' human capital on SMEs' growth increases when these firms are focused on technology.Research limitations/implicationsThe study yielded small-effect sizes for the impact of OMs' human capital and gender on SMEs' growth. Researchers can assess the influence of these characteristics on SMEs' growth along with other individual dimensions.Originality/valueThe current study is the first meta-analytical investigation about the influence of OMs' gender on SMEs' growth. The study focuses solely on SME OMs, as SMEs are not simply larger businesses on a smaller scale. The authors employ a wide set of country-level moderators in the research going beyond most empirical examinations of the topic that have given only marginal attention to moderators.

I n this paper, we focus on the economic motivation for the existence of microfinance institutions (MFIs). In doing so, our study contributes to the debate regarding why MFIs exist and, especially, what mechanisms are used to address the risks associated with their operation. In examining the reasons why some individuals are regarded as "non-bankable", we lay out the basic economic logic that motivates the exclusion of this population from formal credit markets. Next, we show how the lending group methodology overcomes the credit dilemma which sustains and increases the exclusion of the poorest from these formal credit sources. Through this, we point out the microfinance founding mechanisms: the increase of both informational symmetry and enforcement capacity of MFIs through the enhancement of their screening, monitoring and enforcement activities. We also highlight the importance of context and gender for the success of lending groups. Finally, we analyze these mechanisms in the Brazilian context. Keywords

We investigate the relationship between women’s participation and the growth of 10,445 Brazilian SMEs operating in a widespread economic crisis. Our study is motivated by the disproportional unemployment scores observed among women during the COVID19 pandemic. We used stepwise regression and conditional process analysis to test all our hypotheses. We found that an increase of women employees in the total workforce of SMEs boosts their growth. This indicates that the disproportional spikes in women’s unemployment observed during recessions are not only unjust but also harmful to SMEs striving to weather crises. We also identified that these firms grow further by increasing women employees’ wages and job tenure, by preferring more women with higher levels of education and longer job tenure, or retaining more educated women who are better paid at the same time. Our findings rebuke the rationale behind the disproportional layoffs of women workers in times of crisis. They indicate that SMEs should sustain their female workforce to increase chances of weathering widespread economic crises. Our results can help alleviate the predicament experienced by women workers during economic crises, and support policies designed to reduce the persistent gender gap in businesses.

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O presente artigo tem por alvo discutir a questão da veste a partir da teoria de Giorgio Agamben. É exposta, em um primeiro momento, a concepção de potência, trazida pelo filósofo italiano dos ensinamentos aristotélicos, apresentando-se, em seguida, a constatação agambeniana sobre a cesura entre ser e práxis. As noções de dispositivo e de oikonomia são trazidas na sequência, a fim de pavimentar o terreno à análise do específico dispositivo veste-nudez, analisado em seguida. Expõem-se, então, algumas ideias críticas a esse respeito, finalizando-se o trabalho com o aporte da categoria da profanação. Resta como pano de fundo a análise da fratura entre a vida e forma, entre ser e sua obra, e a necessidade da preservação da característica por excelência da humanidade: a potência-de-não.