Evaluation of the Operation of a Social Cooperative Enterprise and Comparison with an ‘Ordinary’ Enterprise of the Private Sector in Greece

Social Cooperative Enterprises (SCEs) in Greece are legal entities under private law. They operate on the basis of the relevant provisions of the Law 4430/2016 as in force. The main objectives of SCEs are the socioeconomic inclusion; the re-integration in terms of employment, and the overall social impact of their activities. This article attempts to proceed with the ex-ante evaluation of the operation of a newly established SCE in North Greece and risk assessment to sets of basic parameters that alter negatively, compared to a ‘classical form’ of privately-owned enterprise, of the same type of business. In order to do so, nine (9) basic parameters of control have been selected, to evaluate the resilience of an SCE and juxtapose it with the respective resilience of ‘classical form’ private enterprise. Those parameters were organised in three (3) sets and three (3) different simulations within a period of five (5) years ahead were performed, for negative shift of each set, in order to finally estimate the sustainability risks—resilience, as well as financial income and social impact. Conclusions of simulations as the ones illustrated in this article are of high importance for prospective social entrepreneurs, as they raise awareness of risks, helping them to be better prepared in case those risks become reality.