What is social and solidarity-based economy?
This definition comes from the RIPESS website
A new way to live and devise the economy
Definitions of the resource center
The social and solidarity-based economy refers to socially-oriented economical activities which are run in favour of the setting up of a new way to live and devise the economy through about ten thousands projects in the Northern countries as well as in the Southern countries.
The Lima meeting which took place in 1997 and the Quebec meeting which took place in 2001 both have given social and solidarity-based economy the following definition: … sets the human factor as the bottom line in the economical and social development. Solidarity in economy consists in a project which is not only economical but also political and social and which implies a new conception and functioning of politics and a new way to establish relationships on the basis of the consensus and citizen behaving. (Statement of Lima, 1997)
To link economical, social and ethical areas
In this type of economy, job and people come first, before money. It is based on a democratic decision-making system, on a strong social involvement and on quality relationships. The social and solidarity-based economy contributes to the creation of job opportunities and increases the capacities of social businessmen. It helps social development and consolidates the power to act of local authorities, by setting up new positions, offering new services, improving life quality, protecting environment and by creating wealth within ethical conditions. We have to devise economy other than according to the neoliberal logic. Economy must serve the society and not the contrary. The vision of economical pluralism does not reconsider the significance of the private sector, but lauds a parallel development of the public and social economy. It comes to produce socio-economical innovation and social change and so, to develop a third path, which is neither an unconscionable neoliberalism nor a full state-owned economy.