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The concept of innovation in social economy. A review and a research agenda

Author

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  • Elena-Simina Lakatos

    (Center for Innovation and Organizational Sustainability, Romania)

  • Bercea Oana Bianca

    (Management and Economic Engineering Department, Faculty of Machine Building, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Laura Bacali

    (Management and Economic Engineering Department, Faculty of Machine Building, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Abstract

Current research provides evidence that traditional business and public sector organizations are not the only structures that encourage development through innovation. A more recent form of organization known under the name of "social enterprise" has a great potential to innovate services, products and processes which can create social value. We have reviewed an array of social economy literature incorporating into it the concept of innovation. Following the grounded theory procedure we have analysed 59 papers in the field of social economy published between 1990 and 2014 so as to see the current state of knowledge regarding the innovative dimension of social enterprises. The innovative dimension of the social enterprise has been found to have been rather neglected by the research field, which tend to adhere to a more theoretical rather than empirical direction. A future research agenda is proposed here, so as to address this issue.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena-Simina Lakatos & Bercea Oana Bianca & Laura Bacali, 2016. "The concept of innovation in social economy. A review and a research agenda," Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research, Pro Global Science Association, vol. 11(1), pages 32-50, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:rse:wpaper:v:11:y:2016:i:1:p:32-50
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social enterprise; Innovation; Social innovation; Social entrepreneurship; Social value;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • L31 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Nonprofit Institutions; NGOs; Social Entrepreneurship
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production

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