In the article, we analyse the impact of changing policy environments on the development of the third sector in Europe. Based on the results of systematic comparative research in eight European countries

No abstract

Purpose – The context conditions for third sector organizations (TSOs) in Europe have significantly changed as a result of the global economic crisis, including decreasing levels of public funding and changing modes of relations with the state. The effect of economic recession, however, varies across Europe. The purpose of this paper is to understand why this is the case. It analyses the impact of economic recession and related policy changes on third sector development in Europe. The economic effects on TSOs are thereby placed into a broader context of changing third sector policies and welfare state restructuring. Design/methodology/approach – The paper focusses on two research questions: how has the changing policy environment affected the development of the third sector? And what kind of strategies have TSOs adopted to respond to these changes? The paper first investigates general trends in Europe, based on a conceptual model that focusses on economic recession and austerity policies with regard to the third sector. In a second step of analysis, the paper provides five country case studies that exemplify policy changes and responses from the third sector in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. Findings – The paper argues that three different development paths can be identified across Europe. In some countries (France and Spain), TSOs face a strong effect of economic recession. In other countries (Germany and Poland) the development of the third sector remains largely stable, albeit at different levels, whereas in the Netherlands, TSOs rather experience changes in the policy environment than a direct impact of economic decline. The paper also shows that response strategies of the third sector in Europe depend on the context conditions. The paper is based on the European project “Third Sector Impact.” It combines an analysis of statistical information with qualitative data from interviews with third sector representatives. Originality/value – The paper contributes to our understanding of the interrelation between economic recession, long-term policy changes and third sector development in Europe.

RESUMEN: La realidad y la literatura científica de la empresa social han ido adquiriendo mayor relevancia durante los últimos años en España, aunque no ha llegado a equipararse a los niveles de otros países europeos, en los cuales el concepto goza de un mayor reconocimiento y desarrollo. Si bien se pueden identificar ejemplos de empresas sociales en nuestro país desde el siglo XV, no es hasta hace una década cuando se ha acuñado el concepto de manera más generalizada.Nuestro objetivo es identificar los modelos de empresa social existentes en España sobre cada uno de los enfoques considerados en la literatura específica de empresa social.Partiendo de la metodología y el trabajo desarrollado dentro del proyecto ICSEM (equipo español), estableceremos una clasificación de los distintos modelos de empresas sociales, utilizando como referencia las fronteras conceptuales de cuatro realidades socioeconómicas presentes en España: la economía social, el Tercer Sector de Acción Social, la economía solidaria y el Emprendimiento Social.Como resultado más relevante obtenemos una nueva perspectiva de análisis de las empresas sociales, contribuyendo así al debate actual de delimitación del concepto y realidad de la empresa social, en España en particular, y en la esfera académica en general.

La insuficiencia de las actuales políticas de fomento de cooperativas… (p.61-91) 61 REVESCO Nº 113-MONOGRÁFICO: Crisis económica actual y sus posibles repercusiones en la economía social